Pipeline Magazine spoke exclusively to Dr Mohamed Al Mansoori, VP UAE Operations, Dolphin Energy, on the challenges and opportunities of meeting the Gulf's soaring energy needs
What are the most exciting projects you are currently working on, for each of the upstream, midstream and downstream areas Dolphin Energy covers?
As VP UAE Operations, my focus is on the company’s downstream operations. We are in the process of closing the Taweelah-Fujairah Pipeline Project. Construction of the pipeline was completed last December 2010 and we have focused our efforts to close out the project, clear all the snag lists and hand over all documentation. Dolphin Energy will continue to study the means required to export more natural gas to the UAE.
Europe and Asia account for a large proportion of Qatar’s gas exports – with Japan in particular accounting for a significant portion of the global trade in gas. Does Dolphin export to this market, and if so, how much?
Dolphin Energy supplies natural gas to the UAE and Oman. There are no plans to expand to other countries and our focus remains on ensuring the supply of 2 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas per day (cfd) to the UAE and Oman. That’s the equivalent of around 333,000 barrels of oil which helps to meet 30 per cent of the Emirates’ energy requirements.
Gas plays a crucial role in meeting the considerable energy shortages in GCC countries, as it does in other parts of the world. But is a high proportion of this from Europe – how sustainable is this?
Does Qatar currently provide gas to other countries of the Gulf and if so, how is this distributed? Are there plans to export to other GCC countries?
This is a question for the government of Qatar, but what I can say is that Qatar Petroleum is a very supportive partner that responds to our requirements so we can meet the growing needs of our customers. This is evident in the allocation of third party gas which is made available to Dolphin Energy – around 125 million cfd.
What is the current status of the Eastern Gas Distribution System (EGDS)? What is the current capacity?
The EGDS is integral to our natural gas network and a vital artery in distributing gas to our customers across the UAE and Oman.
Dolphin Energy took over management of the network in 2007 and today it allows the company to provide natural gas to all seven emirates and also to Oman.
The EGDS main pipelines vary between 18 and 48 inches in diameter. At normal operating conditions, for example when Dolphin gas is supplied together with GASCO gas, the total quantity of gas that can flow through the EGDS network will be in the range starting from 3 to 3.5 billion cfd, depending on supply/demand conditions.
Given the completion of the Taweelah-Fujairah pipeline (TFP), can you discuss integration plans with the EGDS?
The EGDS network is an integral part of the UAE Gas Network. When the need arises, the entire network including the EGDS can be supplied with gas via the new TFP line. Tie-ins are in place to make this possible.
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