IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qatar Petroleum and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today announced the Al Khaleej Gas-Phase 2 (AKG-2) project, with 1,250 million cubic feet per day (mcfd) of sales gas capacity, initiated operations in December 2009.

The new facilities are designed to meet the growing demand of local industries. Combined with Al Khaleej Gas-Phase 1 (AKG-1), which began production in 2005, AKG will have a total capacity of 2,000 mcfd, making it the largest source of domestic gas supply in the State of Qatar.

The AKG-2 project involved construction of onshore gas treating, liquids recovery and fractionation facilities and two additional offshore wellhead platforms. ExxonMobil utilized state-of-the-art technologies, including its proprietary Fast Drill and well completion technologies, to reduce drilling time and optimize the costs of the new North Field wells. The onshore facilities are integrated with the Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (3) facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Initial production occurred in December 2009.

His Excellency Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attyiah, Deputy Premier Minister of Energy and Industry, Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum, said, “We consider the AKG project as one of the strategic development projects of the North Field as it supplies gas to various power and desalination plants, as well as petrochemical and other energy intensive industries in Qatar. This project is another example of our long-term relationship with ExxonMobil that is based upon mutual benefits.”

“Working in partnership, Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil are successfully commercializing the world’s largest non-associated natural gas field,” said Neil Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Company. “This is another major achievement to ensure the optimal use of Qatar’s hydrocarbon resources to meet increasing local demand and contribute to further development of Qatar’s industrial base. This project is helping to support the country’s rapid economic expansion.”

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Estimates, expectations, and business plans in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including production rates and sales volumes, cost efficiencies, project plans, schedules, and costs, and commercial arrangements could differ materially due to changes in long-term oil and gas price levels or other market conditions affecting the oil and gas industry; political or regulatory developments; reservoir performance; timely completion of development projects; technical or operating factors; the outcome of commercial negotiations; and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" included in Item 1A of ExxonMobil's most recent Form 10-K and posted on our website (www.exxonmobil.com). References in this release to quantities of gas include amounts that may not yet be classified as proved reserves but that we believe will ultimately be produced.