OREANDA-NEWS. On the threshold of Gazprom's annual General Shareholders Meeting the Company's headquarters hosted today the Press Conference “Mineral and Raw Material Base Development. Gas Production. Gas Transmission System Development”. Taking part in the Press Conference were Vitaly Markelov Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Gazprom; Members of the Management Committee; Dmitry Lyugai Head of the Prospective Development Department, Gazprom; Vsevolod Cherepanov Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department, Gazprom and Sergey Alimov, First Deputy Head of the Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, Gazprom.

It was highlighted that Gazprom held the world's largest natural gas reserves – 35.1 trillion cubic meters. In 2012 the gas reserves replenishment level totaled 573 billion cubic meters as a result of geological exploration carried out by the Company in Russia. The gas replenishment to extraction ratio amounted to 118 per cent. Thus, for the eighth consecutive year the rates of the Company's reserves growth exceeded natural gas extraction rates.

Gazprom consistently develops its production capacities. In October 2012 the new large gas production center became operational in Yamal The Bovanenkovskoye field, biggest one on the Peninsula, with the annual design capacity of 115 billion cubic meters of gas was put onstream. In January 2013 the Zapolyarnoye field was brought to its full design capacity – 130 billion cubic of gas per year. At present, Gazprom is capable of producing over 600 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Owing to Gazprom's continuous efforts on building up gas production capacities, the production level last winter hit a five-year record high – 1,658 million cubic meters of gas per day. This is a daily increase of 50 million cubic meters of gas versus the 2011 autumn-winter period.

The Company implements unique gas transmission projects. In 2012 the first string of the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system was commissioned. The 1,420 millimeter pipes manufactured in Russia and designed for the operating pressure of 11.8 MPa – the world's record for onshore gas pipelines – were used in the construction. In addition, the extension of the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas pipeline was completed and the SRTO – Torzhok gas pipeline was brought to its design operating mode. The construction of the Southern Corridor gas transmission system was launched.


In 2012 Gazprom continued to intensely build up underground gas storage (UGS) capacities in Russia. In December during the abnormally cold weather Gazprom reached the record daily withdrawal rate in the entire Russian UGS history – 670.7 million cubic meters, thus exceeding 39 per cent of gas consumption within the Unified Gas Supply System.

In addition, the Press Conference participants addressed the Company's further efforts aimed at developing its mineral resource base, production and gas transmission capacities.