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Start-up at In Salah Southern Fields announced

Release date:
16 February 2016

In Salah Gas, a joint venture between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil today announced the start-up of its Southern Fields project.

The project is the latest stage in the development of seven gas fields in central Algeria. The In Salah Gas joint venture commenced production in 2004 from three fields in the north of the area: Krechba, Teguentour and Reg. The Southern Fields project involves the development of four dry gas fields: Gour Mahmoud, In Salah, Garet el Befinat and Hassi Moumene.  Developing the Southern Fields will maintain planned production at 9 billion cubic metres per annum.
 
Commenting on the start-up, Hesham Mekawi, BP North Africa Regional President said: “The safe start–up of Southern Fields is an important example of the strength and quality of the longstanding partnership between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil and is evidence of BP’s continued commitment to invest in Algeria. I am pleased to congratulate the team at In Salah Gas on this significant achievement that will sustain production for years to come.”

Drilling of 26 planned southern field wells began in 2014 and is planned to continue until 2018. The project’s scope includes a new 500 mmscfd gas dehydration central processing facility close to Hassi Moumene, brownfield modifications to existing processing facilities at Reg, Teg and Krechba, 150 km of carbon steel export pipelines, 160 km of 13% chrome corrosion resistant alloy infield flowlines and the drilling and tie in of the 26 new wells.

Production is planned to ramp up to 14.1 million cubic metres per day (500 mmscfd) as wells in the Hassi Moumene and Garet el Befinat field are brought on line over the next two months.

Further information

 

Contacts


BP press office, London: +44 20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com

Notes to editors

 

  • Partners in the In Salah Gas joint venture are Sonatrach (35%), BP (33.15%) and Statoil (31.85%).
  • In Salah Gas has total estimated recoverable resources of 159 billion cubic metres (5.6 TCF).
  • Commercial gas production from In Salah gas started on 18 July 2004. The sales gas is marketed by In Salah Gas Limited, a company jointly owned by Sonatrach, BP and Statoil. Gas is sold to ENEL in Italy.
  • In Salah Gas partners approved the final investment decision for the ISSF project in 2011.

About BP in Algeria

 

Beginning in the mid-1950s, BP has grown to become one of the largest foreign investors in Algeria. BP partners with Sonatrach and Statoil in the In Salah Gas and In Amenas joint ventures, which supply gas to the domestic and European markets.