Our Arctic Neighbors: Gazprom’s Yamal gas project revving up

Production at the Bovanenkovskoe gas field on Russia’s Yamal Peninsula might begin ahead of schedule, Gazprom executive Alexander Ananenkov said on a visit to the region. Construction of key production facilities for the project, including comprehensive gas treatment units, engineering support facilities for drilling operations and gas well clusters, is progressing intensively, Gazprom said in a release Dec. 10.

Drilling of production wells is going according to schedule, and all the Ekaterina drilling rigs have been delivered to the field. Seven out of the nine rigs have commenced drilling operations. The remaining two rigs will be completely installed in early 2010, according to the release.

More than 211 miles of the gas pipeline have been built, including the first part of the most complex section — the underwater crossing via Baidarata Bay. Installation of the gas-pumping equipment has been initiated at the Baidaratskaya compressor station. Construction of the Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railroad is nearing completion.

—Sarah Hurst