OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2011. Gazprom's group of experts started its business trip to the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YaNAO). It is planned to visit the facilities being constructed as part of the Yamal megaproject.

Gazprom's experts visited the Bovanenkovo field which will serve as the basis for establishing a new large gas production center on the Yamal Peninsula.

Alexander Ananenkov moderated a local meeting dedicated to the first startup complex facilities construction within the Bovanenkovo field pre-development process and the required transport infrastructure creation.

Participating in the meeting were heads and experts from Gazprom's specialized subdivisions and Gazprom dobycha Nadym, Gazpromtrans, Gazprom komplektatsiya as well as engineering and contracting companies.

During the meeting, consideration was given to ongoing construction and installation activities. It was highlighted that the Bovanenkovo field pre-development was progressing on schedule.

Much work has already been done at the comprehensive gas treatment unit (CGTU) module 1 and the booster compressor station. Equipment installation at the CGTU module 2 has been initiated. Flowlines and access roads to gas well clusters are being constructed. Gas production wells are being successfully drilled – 67 wells were drilled in 2010 with borehole equipment installed in 29 wells.

Construction of the Obskaya – Bovanenkovo railroad, being another key element in the transmission infrastructure, is almost complete. The railroad will ensure year-round delivery of materials and equipment for the Bovanenkovo field pre-development. The Bovanenkovo station – Karskaya station thoroughfare is to be launched in the first quarter of the year.

Based on the meeting results, Gazprom's specialized subdivisions, subsidiaries and contracting companies were tasked to maintain the rapid pace of the pre-development facilities construction in the Bovanenkovo field.
Background

The Yamal Peninsula is a region of Gazprom's strategic interests. Large-scale development of the Yamal fields will increase local gas production to 310–360 billion cubic meters per annum by 2030. Accessing Yamal is very important for ensuring domestic gas production growth.

32 fields were discovered in Yamal and the adjacent offshore areas with aggregate ABC1+C2 reserves and C3 resources reaching 26.5 trillion cubic meters of gas and some 1.64 billion tons of oil and condensate. The Bovanenkovo field is the most significant one on the Yamal Peninsula as its АВС1+С2 gas reserves amount to 4.9 trillion cubic meters.

In December 2008 Gazprom commenced practical implementation of the Yamal megaproject. The Company started the operations aimed at the Bovanenkovo field development and the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system (GTS) construction. Commissioning of the first startup complexes for the Cenomanian-Aptian deposits pre-development in the field and the GTS construction are scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.

Projected gas production in the Bovanenkovo field is estimated at 115 billion cubic meters per annum to be increased to 140 billion cubic meters in the long term.

In January 2010 Gazprom started regular operation of the Obskaya – Bovanenkovo railroad 525 kilometers long.

The Obskaya – Bovanenkovo railroad commissioning and construction of the railroad section to the Karskaya station (the overall length to reach 572 kilometers) will ensure year-round, rapid, cost effective and all-weather delivery of cargoes and personnel to the Yamal fields in a severe polar climate.

The railroad will convey up to 3 million tons of cargoes per annum. These include construction materials, machinery, equipment, metal structures, fuels and lubricants, chemicals, pipes and cables required to develop the Bovanenkovo and other fields in Yamal as well as to construct and operate the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta GTS. In addition, the railroad will help deliver liquid commodities, in particular, gas condensate, from the Yamal fields.