BASF subsidiary Wintershall is set to end its gas exploration operations in Qatar due to a lack of access to local infrastructure.
The German company said it would return its licence to explore block 4 North near the North Field off the Qatari coast as local infrastructure is not accessible.
Wintershall made the Al Radeef gas discovery off the cost of Qatar in the year 2013.
“During the development planning, it was always clear that an economic development of the discovery would only be possible if we have access to local infrastructure. This access was not granted.”
Wintershall board member Martin Bachmann said: “During the development planning, it was always clear to us and our partners that an economic development of the discovery, including the processing of the gas, would only be possible if we have access to local infrastructure.
“This access was not granted. That is why we have decided to take this step.”
At present, the company plans to focus on the United Arab Emirates, where it plans to deploy its enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology that was tested in mature fields in Germany and Europe.
Bachmann added: “The challenges in the region are increasing with local energy consumption growing rapidly. In order to maintain production in the long term, fields must be exploited more efficiently and technically more complex fields need to be developed.”
According to the company, the EOR technology is used to increase the yield from complex reservoirs.
Wintershall focuses on selected core regions, which include Europe, Russia, North Africa, South America, and the Middle East region.