Qatar discovers huge gas field

Dubai: Qatar has discovered an offshore gas field containing 2.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, its first such discovery since 1971, Energy Minister Mohammad Bin Saleh Al Sada was quoted as saying on 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 Al 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.