Turkmen authorities launch construction work under stage 4 of development for Galkynysh gas field

ASHGABAT. April 17 (Interfax) - Turkmen People's Council Chairman Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has launched construction work as part of stage 4 of the development of the giant Galkynysh gas field, according to the online publication Turkmenportal.

Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang, who arrived in Turkmenistan as a special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, took part in the event.

The fourth phase of the project envisages an increase in gas production of 10 billion cubic meters per year.

Earlier in April, the state concern Turkmengaz and China's CNPC Amudarya Petroleum Company Ltd (a subsidiary of CNPC) signed a turnkey contract for the development of stage 4 of Galkynysh. Under this contract, CNPC Amudarya Petroleum Company Ltd will carry out the turnkey design and construction of facilities for the preparation of 10 bcm of commercial gas per year, as well as production wells sufficient to prepare the same amount of commercial gas.

The Turkmengaz state concern is the main operator of the development of Galkynysh, with total reserves of more than 27 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. The development of this field is being carried out in stages with the involvement of major international oil and gas companies and service contractors. CNPC won the tender for the development of stage 4 of the project.

At present, gas is produced at Galkynysh as part of the first stage of its commercial development, launched in September 2013. It provides supplies of gas to the domestic market, as well as to China.

The implementation of stage 4 with a capacity of 10 bcm per year, with the participation of CNPC, will make it possible to increase total supplies to China to 65 bcm of gas per year.

A total of seven stages of development at Galkynysh are planned, following which total production will amount to 200 bcm of gas per year.