In February, Sheikh Tameem bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar, laid the foundation stone for the Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) project, a world-scale integrated project sponsored by Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Shell that will contribute to make Qatar the GTL capital of the world.

Pearl GTL is not only the world’s largest integrated GTL project, but also the largest energy project ever launched within the borders of Qatar.
The Pearl GTL project is being developed under a Development and Production Sharing Agreement with the government of the State of Qatar.
The agreement covers offshore and onshore project development and operations, with Shell providing 100 per cent of project funding. 
Upstream some 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of wellhead gas will be produced, transported and processed to produce 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of condensate, liquefied petroleum gas and ethane.
Downstream dry gas will be used as feedstock to produce 140,000 barrels per day of clean, high quality GTL fuels and products.
The Pearl GTL project is expected to produce some 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent wellhead gas over the period of the Development and Production Sharing Agreement.
In November 2006, Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) appointed Shell to manage its fleet of at least 27 new LNG carriers.
The agreement involves Shell providing a range of shipping services to Nakilat including ship management as well as the transfer of know how and expertise to allow Nakilat to develop its own LNG Ship Management Company in Qatar.
In April 2006, QP and Shell broke ground on the Qatargas 4 project, which will produce 7.8 million tonnes per year of LNG.  Qatargas 4 will be implemented through a joint venture between QP (70 per cent) and Shell (30 per cent).
The project comprises the integrated development of upstream gas production facilities to produce approximately 1.4 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas and substantial quantities of associated liquids from Qatar’s North Field over the 25-year life of the project. 
The project will also include a single LNG train yielding approx 7.8 mtpa of LNG for a 25-year period. First LNG cargos from Qatargas 4 are scheduled for around the end of the decade.
In February 2005, Shell signed a 10-year lease of premises as anchor tenant in Qatar Foundation’s Science and Technology Park in Doha.
Shell plans a substantial expenditure of up to $100 million over a 10-year period to implement a world-class technology programme.
Shell’s programme will initially concentrate on upstream and GTL technologies, training and technical services. 
Shell has already commenced work in temporary accommodations in anticipation of the delivery of the permanent facility.
QP and Shell continue to discuss the commercial and technical aspects of a potential world-scale petrochemicals complex in Qatar.
The ceremony was also attended by Britain’s Prince Charles and Qatar’s Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah.