Qatar has discovered an offshore gas field containing 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, its first such discovery since 1971, energy minister Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada was quoted as saying Sunday.
The discovery was made at the 4-North offshore block near the large North Field, by a consortium that includes Wintershall AG of Germany and Mitsui Gas Development Qatar, the Qatar News Agency quotes Mr. Sada as saying.
Qatar, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, holds the world's largest natural gas reserves and is the single-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas.
The Gulf state has proven natural gas reserves of about 890 trillion cubic feet--about 13% of total world natural gas reserves--most of which is located in its offshore North Field, the world's largest non-associated gas field.
