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Gazprom launches field, takes historical step in Yamal

Gazprom leader Aleksei Miller is starting the pumps at Bovanenkovo. Photo: gazprom.ru

One of the world’s biggest gas fields, the Bovanenkovo in the Yamal Peninsula, is today officially declared opened.

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The Russian gas company takes a historical step as it launches its giant 4,9 trillion cubic meter new gas field, the Bovanenkovo. The field, which also holds 5,7 million tons of oil and 111,7 million tons of condensate, is the biggest in the gas-rich Arctic peninsula.

The Bovanenkovo will by year 2017 produce an annual of 115 billion cubic meters of gas, all of which will be sent westwards with a brand new 2451 km long pipeline. Production volumes at the field will later be increased to 140 billion cubic meters, Gazprom informs.

In 2013, a total of 46 billion cubic meters will be produced, a press release reads.

Gazprom has not only invested major sums in the development of the field. It has also constructed the pipeline, which takes the gas across the Baydarata Bay to Ukhta in the Komi Republic and from there further to Torzhok in central Russia. In addition, a railway line has been built from Bovanenkovo to the Obskaya station, thus linking the field with the Russian railway grid.

With its launch of the field, Gazprom takes a leap into the hugely gas-rich peninsula. The Yamal and its surrounding waters are believed to hold up to 26,5 trillion cubic meters of gas and 1,64 billion tons of oil and condensate divided on at least 32 fields. Next in the line for Gazprom is the Kharasaveyskoye field, located to the northwest of the Bovanenkovo.

As previously reported, also two other Yamal projects are under preparations, the South Tambey field and the Novoportskoye, developed by Novatek and Gazprom Neft respectively. The new fields will be connected with new infrastructure; sea ports, pipelines and railway lines.

Commenting on the Bovanenkovo launch, regional Governor Dmitry Kobylkin says the opening of the field is a “serious step in the development of the resources in the Arctic region, as well as in the building of regional infrastructure”, Itar-Tass reports.