Our Arctic Neighbors: Gazprom postpones Yamal gas production

Russian energy giant Gazprom’s management committee has decided in a meeting to postpone development of the Bovanenkovskoe gas field on the Yamal Peninsula, the company said in a release June 18. Completion of the Bovanenkovskoe-Ukhta pipeline and the Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railroad will also be delayed.

“The meeting noted that the global financial crisis had a negative impact on the domestic and foreign gas demand as well as on the consumption forecast over the next few years,” the release said. “Taking into consideration that Gazprom’s business is market-oriented, the management committee resolved to postpone the commissioning of the first startup facilities of the Bovanenkovskoe field and the Bovanenkovskoe-Ukhta gas pipeline system from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2012.”

Gazprom began drilling production wells at the Bovanenkovskoe field and building the pipeline in 2008, the company said. “At present, the top-priority vital industrial and transportation infrastructure facilities and industrial bases are nearing completion, and the gas production and treatment sites are almost ready,” the release continued. “Three wells have been constructed and drilling facilities are being installed.”

Over 186 miles of the approximately 683-mile pipeline have been built, including 25 miles of one of the most challenging sections, the submerged crossing under Baidarata Bay. In March 2009 the most difficult part was finished — the bridge crossing over the Yuribei River. Currently about 224 miles of the 326-mile railroad are fully operational.

—Sarah Hurst