OREANDA-NEWS. February 19, 2010. TATNEFT continues to successfully implement a corporate program of activities for utilization of associated petroleum gas (APG) intended for the period of 2009-2013. The program provides for increasing the ratio of associated gas utilization up to 98 percent, which would substantially reduce gas flaring emissions into the atmosphere, reported the press-centre of TATNEFT.

The amount of more than 380 million rubles was spent at the initial stages of the program during 2008-2009. The planned investment volume totals over 800 million rubles for 2010. This amount will be used for reconstruction and expansion of existing facilities for cleaning APG, replacement and construction of a new APG collection line system, as well as introduction of furnaces for heating oil.

Currently, TATNEFT effectively utilizes 738.4 million cubic meters of associated gas per year representing about 94% of the total gas volume produced by the Company. For several years the Company has been actively working to reduce the volume of the flared associated gas with application of economically viable ways to utilize it. There are three well grounded approaches: development of the gas gathering system and delivery of gas for processing to Minnibayevo gas processing plant (part of the "Tatneftegazpererabotka" Administration of OAO TATNEFT); application of furnaces for heating oil during its treatment to bring it to the commercial conditions; electricity and heat generation with application of gas engine plants.

These activities are implemented in line with the Russian Federation Government Decree of January 8, 2009 "On measures to stimulate the reduction of air pollution by products of associated gas flaring”, which assigned to bring the associated gas utilization in the petroleum industry of the country to 95% by January 1, 2012.