On July 27, 2006, Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Shell launched their Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) project, which will be the world's largest integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) project. It will integrate upstream and downstream components. The project is being developed under a development and production sharing agreement between Shell and QP. Shell will shoulder 100% of the offshore and onshore costs, which reportedly will be in the neighborhood of $18 billion.

On the upstream side, the Pearl GTL project is set to produce 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from Qatar's offshore North Field. It will subsequently transport and process 120,000 boe/d of natural gas liquids (LPG and condensate) and ethane from wellhead gas. According to Shell, the North Field is considered the largest single non-associated gas reservoir in the world and boasts estimated recoverable resources in excess of 900 trillion cubic feet. Over its lifetime the integrated project is expected to produce roughly 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Downstream, dry gas will be used as feedstock for a new onshore integrated GTL complex in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City. The complex will comprise two 70,000-b/d GTL trains and associated facilities. It will manufacture 140,000 barrels per day of liquid hydrocarbon products, including naphtha, GTL fuel, normal paraffins, kerosene, and lubricant base oils.

Shell stated that GTL fuel, which can be used in existing light- and heavy-duty diesel engines, will be the largest component of the product mix. GTL products also are virtually free of sulfur, nitrogen, and aromatics.

On February 22, 2007, Shell and QP broke ground on Pearl GTL at Ras Laffan Industrial City. Production from the first train is expected to begin by the first quarter of 2011, with the second train going onstream by the first half of 2012.