Astana hosted a working meeting between Alexander Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Uzakbai Karabalin, Minister of Oil and Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The parties discussed further co-operation in the gas sector and, in particular, the extension of the long-term agreement till 2038 – on purchase and sale of gas produced from the Karachaganakskoye gas and condensate field. A focus was also placed on the prospects for the joint development of the Imashevskoye gas and condensate field.
In addition, the parties looked into the possible development of Russian and Kazakh gas transmission networks.
Background
Gazprom and KazMunaiGaz have a successful track record of cooperation since 2002, within the KazRosGaz joint venture established on a parity basis and focused on purchasing gas of the Karachaganakskoye field, gas treatment at the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant and subsequent sales to Kazakh and Russian consumers.
The cross-border Imashevskoye field is located 60 km northeast of Astrakhan in Russia and 250 km southwest of Atyrau in the Kurmangazy District, Kazakhstan. The field contains over 100 billion cubic meters of explored gas reserves with a hydrogen sulfide content of 15% to 17%.
The Intergovernmental Agreement on joint exploration and survey of the Imashevskoye gas and condensate field is effective since 2010. Gazprom and KazMunaiGaz were authorized to implement the Agreement and KazRosGaz was identified as the Imashevskoye field operator.
The explored natural gas reserves of the Republic of Kazakhstan are estimated at 3.3 trillion m3. Natural gas reserves with the account of the Caspian Sea shelf are forecast at about 8 trillion cubic meters. Gazprom Group sold 4.7 billion m3 of natural gas in Kazakhstan in 2013.
Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton