Gas giant Qatar and Anglo-Dutch major Royal Dutch/Shell signed a $6-$7 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal yesterday to ship gas to North America and Europe. Officials and company executives said the Qatargas-4 project involves the development of upstream gas production facilities to produce 1.4 billion cubic feet a day of gas and large volumes of associated liquids from Qatar's North Field, and a single 7.8 million tons per year LNG train for a period of 25 years. Qatargas-4 is a joint venture, with state-run Qatar Petroleum (QP) holding 70 percent and Shell the remainder. LNG deliveries are expected to start around 2010-2012, Reuters reported.