Total plans LNG bunkering development in Oman

France’s Total has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Oman to develop natural gas resources and LNG bunkering service in the country.

Total and Shell as operator will develop several natural gas discoveries located in the Greater Barik area on onshore Block 6 with respective shares of 25 percent and 75 percent, with the objective of an initial gas production of around 500 MMcfd and a potential to reach 1 bcf/d at a later stage.

Total will use its equity gas entitlement as feedstock to develop liquefied natural gas bunkering service in Oman to supply LNG as a fuel to marine vessels.

The company plans to achieve the goal through a new small-scale modular liquefaction plant to be built in Sohar port. The plant will comprise a train of around 1 Mt per year and will offer the flexibility for expansion as required by the development of the LNG bunkering market.

In Oman, Total’s production was 37 kboe/d in 2017. Total produces oil in Block 6 (4 percent) and in Block 53 (2 percent), as well as LNG through its participation in the Oman LNG (5.54 percent)/Qalhat LNG (2.04 percent) liquefaction complex with an overall capacity of 10.5 Mt/y.