Gazprom launches production at Kirinskoye offshore field
MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Gazprom has put the Kirinskoye gas condensate field offshore Sakhalin into production.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the signal to start production by video-link from his residence in Novo-Oraryovo, near Moscow.
"The production and transportation complex is ready. Allow us to start supplying gas from the Kirinskoye field," Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, who was at the onshore control room in Beregovoye, Nogliki district, asked Putin.
"Get started," said Putin.
Kirinskoye is a priority field being developed under the Sakhalin-3 project. It is on The Sea of Okhotsk shelf at a depth of 90 meters, with C1 reserves of 162.5 bcm gas and 19.1 million tonnes of gas condensate.
For the first time in Russia, gas will be produced from a subsea production unit.
"This is certainly a vital step towards strengthening the Far East's whole energy potential, creating a foundation for the development of the Far Eastern regions' economies and, bearing in mind that gas from Kirinskoye will be the resource base for a future liquefied gas plant as well, this means that Russia us making another powerful step in strengthening its positions in the world energy markets," the Russian president said.
Gazprom used the very latest technologies, including the extraction of gas without a sea platform "for the first time in Russia." "This is the most advanced technology, and it minimizes environmental risks," Putin said.
The onshore complex that will receive the Kirinskoye gas is designed to receive gas from other Sakhalin-3 project fields. "This all says that decisions that are forming the basis for the accelerated growth of the regions are being made when needed," he said.
Gazprom's Miller said Kirinskoye would achieve projected capacity in 2017.
"Our plan is to produce just less than 1 billion cu m [in 2014], 3 bcm in the second year, just over 5 bcm in the fourth year and to plateau from 2017," he said.