North Dome is Qatar's portion of a giant offshore natural-gas reservoir in The Persian Gulf. Iran calls its portion South Pars. The geological structure crosses the maritime boundary, while each state develops its own side. QatarEnergy operates the Qatari field and sends its gas to Ras Laffan for processing and liquefaction.

The field underpins Qatar's LNG export system and therefore much of the state's revenue and international weight. Shared geology creates a long-term production relationship between the two halves. The offshore reservoir is distinct from the wells, pipelines, processing plants and liquefaction trains required to turn its gas into export cargoes.

Key Issues

Shared gas field

The shared reservoir faces wartime risk

An Israeli strike hit the South Pars and Asaluyeh complex on 6 April. South Pars is Iran's half of the same geological reservoir Qatar calls North Dome, so damage on the Iranian side placed the shared field inside the war's target set.

The North Dome's gas reaches export markets through Ras Laffan. Two Qatari liquefaction trains were destroyed in March, removing 12.8 million tonnes of annual capacity for several years. The field itself remained productive, but damage downstream limited the amount of its gas Qatar could sell as LNG.

Common Questions

Reference

What is the North Dome gas field?

North Dome is Qatar's portion of the world's largest natural gas reservoir, shared geologically with Iran's South Pars. It holds an estimated 1,800 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas and underpins virtually all Qatari LNG exports.

How much of the world's gas does Qatar's North Dome supply?

Qatar produces around 77 million tonnes of LNG per annum from North Dome, roughly 20-25% of global LNG supply. It is expanding towards 126 mtpa by 2030.

Is Qatar's North Dome gas field at risk from the Iran war?

The North Dome field shares a geological reservoir with Iran's South Pars, which Israel struck on 6 April 2026. Direct damage to the Qatari side has not occurred. Iran's most symmetrical retaliation would involve striking North Dome infrastructure, but doing so would attack a US base-hosting state, deterring Tehran.Source: Briefing #61, Lowdown

How the World Sees Them

Iran

South Pars and North Dome are geologically joined; striking Qatar's side would be catastrophically escalatory. Iran's restraint on North Dome is enforced by the consequences, not by goodwill.

Qatar

North Dome is the economic foundation of the state; any damage to shared reservoir infrastructure, or Iranian retaliation targeting Qatari LNG trains, is an existential economic threat.

United States

Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base; a strike on North Dome would automatically draw the US into direct conflict with Iran regardless of the Hormuz deadline status.

Global LNG markets

Qatar supplies roughly 20-25% of global LNG; any North Dome disruption would cause immediate price shocks across European and Asian gas markets.

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.