Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 29
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakhstan's Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) produced some 136.3 million barrels of stabilized and un-stabilized liquid hydrocarbons, gas and fuel gas in oil equivalent in 2013 which is 2.3 percent less than in 2012, the company said on Jan. 29.
"The volume of gas re-injection in order to maintain the reservoir pressure amounted to 8.57 billion cubic meters which accounts for about 49 percent of the total volume of produced gas," the company's Director General Damiano Ratti said.
The partners for the company invested nearly $17.6 billion in development of Karachaganak field, according to the director general. The direct payment to the republican budget amounted to $10.3 billion.
Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field is one of the largest and most complex fields in terms of operation in Kazakhstan. Currently, 95 producing wells and 17 injection wells operate at Karachaganak field and the total number of wells is 379.
Karachaganak has not only huge reserves of hydrocarbon resources, the development of the field makes a significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan's economy and contributes to the welfare of residents of the West Kazakhstan province.
In its activities, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating is guided by priorities identified by the government of Kazakhstan with regard to sustainable development, according to the company's director general. This object is achieved by improving infrastructure, achieving high environmental indicators, implementation of large-scale social programs, as well as initiatives in the sphere of development of local potential.
"The company fully supports Kazakhstan's initiative on the transition to a green economy," he said.
The gas utilization rate in the Karachaganak field amounted to 99.84 percent in 2013. Gas flaring volumes hit 0.16 percent of the total volume of extracted gas or 0.94 tons per 1,000 tons of extracted gas. The company's investments in environmental protection have exceeded $275.2 million since 1998.
The emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere during the operation of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating BV's production facilities are controlled by automatic data collection and environmental monitoring. Moreover, the company is monitoring the air quality in settlements adjacent to Karachaganak field.
Karachaganak Petroleum Operating BV generally invested more than $178 million in training and development of Kazakh specialists using international experience, its own educational resources, as well as cooperation with famous Kazakh and foreign educational institutions.
The share of Kazakh content in the company's contracts for supplying the goods and rendering the services reached 50.15 percent in 2013, which in monetary terms amounted to $461.1 million.
Translated by L.Z., N.H.
Edited by C.N.