From black gold to frozen gas : how Qatar became an energy superpower

Today, Qatar is among the world’s wealthiest countries. Its rich hydrocarbon resources have transformed this small Gulf state into an energy powerhouse, funded its outsized global ambitions, and allowed it to forge an identity separate from those of its large and powerful neighbors. Drawing on Michael D. Tusiani’s firsthand accounts and deep personal experience in the energy sector and Anne-Marie Johnson’s years of reporting, this book explores how Qatar became a major player in the global energy market. It follows the twists and turns of Qatar’s road to riches, from the first interest by British and American oil companies in the 1920s to the decades it took to develop the North field―the world’s largest gas field―following its discovery in 1971 through the country’s emergence as one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the 2000s. From Black Gold to Frozen Gas details the technical, financial, and political challenges involved in getting Qatar’s first LNG projects off the ground. It shows how, despite missteps and setbacks, the foundations of today’s Qatar were laid over many decades. And it chronicles epic rivalries within the ruling Al Thani family, among oil companies, and in the geopolitics of the energy landscape. Part historical analysis, part in-the-room narrative, From Black Gold to Frozen Gas is the definitive account of oil and gas development in Qatar. "Eighty years after oil was first discovered in Qatar, a small nation often ignored in favor of its richer and larger Gulf neighbors, it is now an energy behemoth exporting vast amounts of liquefied natural gas, condensates, refined products, petrochemicals, and fertilizers. The country also produces steel, iron, and aluminum and is the second-largest supplier of helium in the world. It has expanded its footprint abroad, acquiring oil and gas assets in the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Latin America. Drawing on history, political analysis, and experience in the energy sector dating back to the 1970s, Michael Tusiani and Anne-Marie Johnson explore the reasons for Qatar's development into a global energy power. Sitting on top of one of the world's largest gas reserves was no doubt luck, but the authors argue that Qatar knew how to leverage this largesse to its best advantage. By focusing on creating the nation's own identity in the region, Qatar's leaders made what many considered to be unconventional and controversial political decisions, often setting the nation at odds with major players on the energy market. Nevertheless, these decisions paid off, placing the country in a strong position as a major global energy player despite declining oil reserves. Part historical analysis, part in-the-room reportage, this book presents an authoritative account of the development of the modern Qatari energy kingdom"-- Provided by publisher Table of Contents 8 Foreword 10 Preface 14 List of Abbreviations 18 Introduction 20 1. Qatar Before Oil: A Historical Perspective 26 2. Qatar’s First Oil Concession: Twists and Turns 38 3. Eureka! Oil Is Discovered at Qatar’s Dukhan Field 60 4. Choppy Waters: Qatar’s First Marine Oil Concession 76 5. Qatar’s Ruler Presses for Better Oil Terms 83 6. Labor Strikes, Another Abdication, and an Industrial Project 98 7. Independence, First Gas Liquids Project, and a Bloodless Coup 120 8. The Early Khalifa Years: 1970s Resource Nationalism 141 9. Explosion Destroys Qatar’s First NGL Plant 161 10. Crunch Time Looms for North West Dome Gas Field 180 11. Partners Selected for Major North Field Gas Project 214 12. Qatar Embarks on First Stage of North Field Gas Project 250 13. Rocky Road for Qatar’s First LNG Project 283 14. Tough Launch for Mobil’s RasGas LNG Project 319 15. Financial Difficulties Mount After 1995 Coup 349 Epilogue: North Field Gas Transforms Qatar into Energy Superpower 386 Acknowledgments 406 Bibliography 452 Index 454 About the Authors 472