The project, which will go for bidding among engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractors in early 2004, centres on the installation of a 121-kilometre-long, 36-inch-diameter pipeline to carry lean sweet gas produced in the North field. On completion of the pipeline in 2006, the North field gas will replace sour gas currently delivered to Mesaieed from the onshore Dukhan field.

A second major pipeline is planned between Ras Laffan and Mesaieed to carry ethylene feedstock from the proposed Ras Laffan ethylene cracker to new downstream petrochemical capacity in the southern industrial city. The functional specifications for the EPC contract are expected to be issued in mid-2004 to contractors. Qatar Chemical Company II (Q-Chem-II)is managing the project on behalf of the client Ras Laffan Ethylene Company (MEED 1:8:03).