Gas Project
It was Irkutsk Oil Company which pioneered gas cycling process in Russia with simultaneous recovery of valuable heavy components of gas. The project was successfully launched at the Yaraktinsky field in East Siberia in 2010. Few years later associated petroleum gas was also injected into the formation during the gas cycling process.
The project initiated an unprecedented full-scale gas development strategy that led to the monetization and recovery of all components of gas through various gas processing technologies. The plan further progressed in 2014 with the construction of gas treatment and processing facilities. The next step forward for this project will be the construction of the Irkutsk Polymer Plant, being built near the city of Ust-Kut (north of the Irkutsk region), which will produce high value-added polyethylene products.The project was unique by introduction of practice when gas components are produced while there is no gas distribution or processing infrastructure in place. This process, gas reinjection, proved to be feasible, but most importantly it reduced the gas flaring of associated petroleum gas to the technical minimum, greatly diminishing environmental footprint.
The break down for Gas project is divided into four stages:
- I
- II
- III
- IV
(2014-2018)
During those eight years, we focused on the development of the gas cap of Yaraktinsky field and the processing of associated petroleum gas from oil wells. The following major facilities have been built: • 3.6 MM m³/year Gas Processing Plant (GPP) • 193 km pipeline connecting Yaraktinsky field and Markovsky fields within the city of Ust-Kut • LPG Uploading Facility. The first stage was officially completed in late 2018, and all of the listed facilities were put into operation. The Gas Processing Plant (GPP), produces both propane and butane (LPG) and stable gas condensate. Until the later stages are completed, INK will feed gas condensate to the East Siberia – Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline, mixing it with crude oil, while dry gas (mostly methane and ethane), produced by GPP, will be pumped back into the ground. A mixture of propane and butane is transported through a multiphase pipeline from Yaraktinsky field to the LPG uploading facility in Ust-Kut. The annual production of LPG as of today exceeds 200 kta and is marketed both in Russia, and internationally. Irkutsk Oil Company also ships LPG by train and motor vehicle locally, as well as, to the regions of Western Siberia, Central Russia, Mongolia.
Investments
As of early 2019, over 50 billion rubles (about $1 billion) have been invested in the Gas project by Irkutsk Oil Company. The overall investments into various gas development technologies and facilities and infrastructure estimate to about 450 billion rubles.
The social and economic impact of the Gas Project is expected to be enormous for the region:
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2,400 new long-term jobs will be created.
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Infrastructure development of the northern Irkutsk region will start: gas pipelines, terminals, and new power stations will be built.
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Cutting-edge processing facilities, engineering, and transportation infrastructure will boost the growth of new small and medium-sized businesses in the city of Ust-Kut.
