The Middle East accounted for 18.2% of TotalFinaElf's production, with 386,300 boe/d, representing an increase of 7% over 1999 on a same-scope basis. In the course of its 70 years of activity in this part of the world, the Group has built quality relations with the governments, as well as the oil and gas industry, in its host countries. Underpinned by the countries' objective of increasing the value of their gas resources and developing power generation, TotalFinaElf can look forward to promising new growth opportunities. The major development projects in Iran, in addition, also continued to advance.
In the United Arab Emirates, declining oil output in Dubai was more than offset by growing hydrocarbon production from the Abu Dhabi concessions.Production reached 251,100 b/d in 2000, representing 11.8% of the Group's overall output. TotalFinaElf signed the first agreements with Enron and Abu Dhabi-owned UOG for the Dolphin project, designed to provide pipeline transmission of gas from Qatar's North Field to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
In Saudi Arabia, following the country's approach to international oil companies, the Group was selected to take part in three tenders for the development of gas fields, as well as projects involving the recycling of gas from petrochemicals operations, power generation, and sea water desalination.
In Kuwait, the technical assistance contract between the Group and state-owned KOC was renewed for a term of three-and-a-half years. TotalFinaElf also obtained pre-qualification to participate in the opening of the upstream sector to international companies.
In Oman, the Oman LNG project (TotalFinaElf 5.54%) was completed in the course of the year with the commissioning of the two trains of the Qalhat liquefaction plant, which has design capacity of 6.6 Mt/y. The first cargo of LNG left the terminal in April, for delivery to South Korea.
In Qatar, the second phase of development was launched on the Al-Khalij field (TotalFinaElf operator with 55%). It will increase production from 25,000 b/d to 60,000 b/d by the end of 2001.
Export sales from the Qatargas liquefaction plant (TotalFinaElf 10%) came to6.7 Mt in 2000. Studies are under way for a project to increase the capacity of the three existing liquefaction trains to 9 Mt/y.
In Iran, the Group is leader in four development projects: Sirri A-E (since 1995), South Pars 2-3 (since 1997), and Balal and Dorood (since 1999). For Sirri A-E (TotalFinaElf operator with 60%), development was completed in 2000 and the surface installations are now being transferred to state-owned NIOC. On South Pars 2-3 (TotalFinaElf operator with 40%), development work continued. Production start-up is scheduled for first-quarter 2002. The main construction contracts were signed for Balal (TotalFinaElf operator with 47.5%), which is under development. On the Dorood field (TotalFinaElf operator with 55%), the offshore platform was installed.
In Syria, oil production from the Deir Ez Zor fields totaled 51,800 b/d in 2000. The fields are operated by a joint venture in which TotalFinaElf holds a 50% interest. The Deir Ez Zor gas project, in addition, entered the development phase. TotalFinaElf has a 50% stake in this project, for which it is joint operator with Conoco. Commissioning of the facilities will begin in August 2001.
In Yemen, Yemen LNG Company continued prospecting for customers. TotalFinaElf, with a 36% interest, is the main shareholder in this company, which the Yemeni Government has appointed to produce and export 5.3 Mt/y of LNG from reserves in the Marib region.
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