Lukoil plans to achieve production of 4.8 bcm at Uzbekistan's Gissar field
PERM. June 23 (Interfax) - Lukoil plans to achieve the projected capacity at the Gissar project in Uzbekistan in the upcoming year, Lukoil First Executive Vice President Ravil Maganov said at the company's annual shareholders meeting.
"In 2015 production at Gissar totaled 1.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas. The projected level of 4.8 bcm should be achieved in 2017 and we have no doubt about it," he said.
He said that currently intense work was being carried out to construct the necessary infrastructure for the collection, preparation and transportation of gas.
On the whole, gas production from projects in Uzbekistan in 2015 exceeded 5 bcm, he said. The forecast level of production in 2019 is around 17 bcm, Maganov said.
Lukoil joined the Southwest Gissar project in 2008, with Lukoil Overseas acquired SNG Holding Ltd, including Soyuzneftegas Vostok Ltd., a party to a production-sharing agreement to develop deposits in Southwest Gissar and the Ustyurt region in Uzbekistan. The cost of the deal was $580 million. The other party to the agreement - in the capacity of authorized state agent - is Uzbekneftegaz.
The contract area includes seven fields: Adamtash, Dzharkuduk-Yangi Kyzylcha, Gumbulak, Amanata and Pachkamar gas and condensate fields, South Kyzylbairak oil, gas and condensate field and Koshkuduk oil field. Gas production at the Gissar project began at the end of 2011.
In addition, Lukoil has been implementing the Kandym project jointly with Uzbekneftegaz since 2004 under the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad production-sharing agreement (PSA). The Kandym group includes six gas and condensate fields: Kandym, Kuvachi, Alat, Akkum, Parsankul, Khodzhi and West Khodzhi. Production at the Khauzak section began in the fall of 2007.
Lukoil is also participating in a project to develop the Aral section.
Lukoil President Vagit Alekperov said in April last year that the company planned to quadruple gas production in Uzbekistan by 2018. "We're currently producing 4 billion cubic meters per year. In 2018 we will be producing about 16 bcm," he said at the time. Lukoil might produce 6 bcm of gas in Uzbekistan in 2016.
