The 38 tanks are the first major structures to reach this milestone. Construction of the Pearl GTL project will be complete around the end of 2010, with project ramp-up then taking about 12 months. Pearl GTL is being developed by Qatar Petroleum and Shell. Andy Brown, Shell’s Executive Vice President Qatar and Managing Director of Pearl GTL, marked the moment by opening a large valve, allowing water to flow into the last tank as part of a completion test. Work now continues on pipelines to connect the tanks and the installation of electrical equipment and instrumentation. Peter Bennett, Vice President Operations Europe, Middle East and Africa of tanks construction contractor CB&I joined Mr Brown for the ceremony. Mr Brown said: “When I stood here in 2006 this was empty desert. Today the skyline of the largest Gas to Liquids plant in the world is rising rapidly. The completion of the tanks is the first of many similar milestones we plan as construction moves towards its conclusion.” Mr Bennett said: “CB&I is proud to be part of the Pearl GTL project. Thousands of people have been involved in reaching this milestone and I salute their achievement.” The volume of the Pearl GTL tanks is together equal to that of 440 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The largest tank has a diameter of 78 metres and is 22 metres high. The Pearl GTL plant will convert natural gas into 140,000 barrels per day of high-quality GTL products. The project will also produce 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of natural gas liquids and ethane. ENQUIRIES: Qatar Shell Simon Buerk +974 497 7740 | 
