Qatar Mulling Aussie Unconventional Gas Assets

Qatar is looking to acquire unconventional gas assets in the booming Australian natural gas market.

The Australian Financial Review has reported that Qatar might seek a stake in BG Group's $16 billion Queensland Curtis LNG project.

The publication citing a source said that investment vehicle Qatar Petroleum International wanted long-term exposure to the boom in alternative gas sources through direct equity investments.

"Coal seam gas is still in its early stages but we are interested in all of the opportunities across the oil and gas chain and if something comes up in Australia we will take a serious look at it," an official in Doha said.

In addition to Australian coal seam gas projects, Qatar is understood to be mulling potential investments in North American shale gas projects, which have turned the market from shortage to glut in the past few years.