Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
The associated gas production is steadily growing in Kazakhstan, the country's Oil and Gas Ministry told Trend on Jan. 10.
"As of 2013, the national oil and gas companies produced around 42.3 billion cubic meters of gas which exceeded the volume of gas produced in 1991 by over five times," the ministry said.
Around 90 percent of the gas produced in Kazakhstan is associated petroleum gas. About 30 percent of the produced associated petroleum gas is pumped back into the reservoir to maintain reservoir pressure. About 15 percent is used for own technical needs, power generation, and a small portion is burned. Commercial gas accounts for about 55 percent of production.
The produced reserves of natural gas and /or associated gas of Kazakhstan (by taking into account the open new fields in the Caspian shelf) amount to 3.8 trillion cubic meters, while geological resources exceed some 6-7 trillion cubic meters, according to the ministry.
Oil and Gas Ministry holds a permanent monitoring on the implementation of the worked out and proved programs for utilization of associated gas and development programs for the processing of associated gas by subsoil users of Kazakhstan, according to the provided information. As a result of carried out activities, the volume of flared gas decreased by 70 percent compared to 2006 and amounted to 0.9 billion cubic meters. The volume of flared gas amounted to 3.1 billion cubic meters in 2006.
Currently, in accordance with the law of Kazakhstan, subsoil users are obliged to formulate development programs for processing associated gas, which are subject to approval by the authorized body in the sphere of oil and gas and to be agreed upon with the authorized bodies for the study and utilization of mineral resources in the field of environmental protection. Programs must be updated every three years for the rational use of the associated gas and for reducing the harmful effects on the environment by decreasing the volume of its flaring or re-injection (utilization).
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.