Resources of Kamchatka
Natural gas resources onshore Kamchatka are relatively small: in the late 1980s four gas condensate discoveries (Kshukskoye, Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye, Sredne-Kunzhinskoye and Severo-Kolpakovskoye) with around 16 billion cubic meters of C1 explored reserves were announced there.
Unlike the onshore, the Western Kamchatka shelf contains significant gas resources. In June 2009 the Russian Federation Government resolved to grant Gazprom the subsurface license for the Zapadno-Kamchatsky license block in the Sea of Okhotsk. Between 2009 and 2010 seismic survey was performed in the area to be followed by exploratory drilling in 2011.
Geological exploration in Kamchatka opens up the way for Gazprom to set up another gas production center in Eastern Russia (in addition to the Sakhalin, Yakutia, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk centers defined in the Eastern Gas Program).
Regional gas supply development
Nowadays, Gazprom faces a socioeconomic challenge of natural gas supply to Kamchatka. In September 2007 pursuant to the Russian Federation Government decision, Gazprom initiated the Gas Supply to the Kamchatka Oblast, Phase 1. Gas Supply to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky project.
As part of the project Gazprom is pre-developing the Kshukskoye and Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye fields on the western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Company is going to annually produce a total of 750 million cubic meters of gas from these fields.
Gazprom promptly built and in September 2010 commissioned the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas pipeline in order to secure gas supplies for the Kamchatka Krai consumers. The 392-kilometer gas pipeline annually conveys up to 750 million cubic meters of gas.
The gasification level in the Kamchatka Krai had been below 1 per cent before Gazprom initiated the project for gas supply to the region. Natural gas in the amount of 9 million cubic meters a year was delivered by Kamchatgazprom (not included in Gazprom Group) to the settlements of Sobolevo and Ustyevoye on the western coast of Kamchatka from the Kshukskoye field. Gazprom’s activity will allow increasing the gasification level in the Kamchatka Krai. In 2009 Kamchatka was included into the Russian Regions Gasification Program.
The Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas pipeline became fundamental for further development of the regional gas supply system. Natural gas utilization will enhance the reliability and efficiency of Kamchatka’s energy sector and create the necessary environment for upgrading the outdated equipment. The increased share of natural gas in the Krai’s energy mix will provide additional incentives for the comprehensive regional development, both economic and social.
CHPP-2 of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was the main gas consumer on the Peninsula at the initial stage. In order to ensure gas supply to CHPP-2, Gazprom built a 15-kilometer two-string inter-settlement gas pipeline from the automated gas distribution station (AGDS) of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to CHPP-2.
Gazprom continues gasifying Kamchatka in a comprehensive and stagewise manner. At present, front-end engineering design development is underway to construct two inter-settlement gas pipelines that will supply gas to CHPP-1, the regional hospital, boiler house No.1 (11th kilometer) and other facilities in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Moreover, the Company is planning to supply gas to the Kamchatka Krai settlements located along the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas pipeline route.