Algerian State-owned oil and gas firm, Sonatrach has signed an accord with British oil major BP to double the output of a gas field in the southeastern area In Amenas, APS news agency said.

The development project would increase the daily output of the field to 25,5-million cubic metres of dry gas and 50 000 cubic metres of liquefied gas, the official Algerian agency said.

The work would be completed in the fourth quarter of 2005, APS added.

"The total cost is at more than 1,05-billion dinars (about $13-million)," it said.

The gas field was discovered in the late 1990s by Amoco, before its merger with BP. – Reuters.

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