On May 14 of the current year the delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands led by Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs paid a working visit to Gazprom production facilities in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Taking part in the visit were representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, companies and research institutions – members of the Delta Project Group.

Participating in the workshop on behalf of Gazprom were Vsevolod Cherepanov, Member of the Management Committee, Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department; as well as heads and experts from the Company’s specialized subdivisions and heads of Gazprom dobycha Yamburg .

The delegation visited the production facilities of the Zapolyarnoye oil, gas and condensate field (ZOGCF): a gas well cluster and one of the units of ZOGCF get acquainted with particularities of gas production under Far North conditions. Then the delegation members visited shift settlement Novozapolyarny, went for a tour round the shift settlement.

Vsevolod Cherepanov, speaking about the visit of the delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the site, noted: «Today by an example of Zapolyarnoye we have demonstrated the potential of Gazprom in the development and operation of northern oil, gas and condensate fields. As of today – he stressed, - Gazprom in this domain is a worldwide leader and I think that it was very useful for guests to see it with their own eyes».

Ms Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, made the point that during the visit she as a woman paid attention to many aspects: to order and tidiness at the production facilities of the field, the way the workplaces are equipped, the outfit of studies, to the mood of employees of the gas producing company and many other nuances. «I am simply obliged to make you a compliment», - summed up the Minister.

Maria van der Hoeven also noticed that «the work under the conditions of the Far North is decent work. In our country as well, - she said, - it is respected and estimated. It is not a mere chance that productive economic ties have been established between the Netherlands and Russia. Our companies are the biggest foreign investors in the Russian economy, Russia in its turn is the sixth largest commodity importer from the Netherlands among states which are not members of the European Union. I am positive that the Dutch companies and Gazprom can do much for each other».

As a part of the visit, a joint workshop was also held to exchange novel techniques for oil, gas and condensate field development. The workshop participants considered general development prospects for the energy sector and addressed the issues of cooperation deepening between Gazprom and the Delta Project Group. Special attention was paid to potential cooperation on fields and infrastructure development on the Yamal Peninsula and in the adjacent offshore areas of the Kara Sea.

The delegation also met with the Head of Novy Urengoy Ivan Kostogriz and representatives of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug administration. The visit ended with viewing a new sport and health complex of Gazprom dobycha Yamburg.

Background

The Zapolyarnoye oil, gas and condensate field ranks the sixth in terms of volume reserves in Russia and is considered to be a unique one. The area of the field is 8745 ha. It stretches 50 kilometers in length, 30 kilometers in width. It enables to develop the Cenomanian deposits only by three –the most powerful in the world –comprehensive gas treatment units.

The Zapolyarnoye oil, gas and condensate field is the biggest gas project, successfully implemented by Gazprom in the early 21st century. Zapolyarnoye was brought to the project capacity of 100 billion cubic meters of gas per year on October 2, 2004. The field development is underway. In the near term Gazprom dobycha Yamburg plans to  put into operation two Valanginian production units with total capacity of around 15 bln cubic meters of gas and around 3,2 mln tons of gas condensate per year.

Delta Project Group is an open partnership of Dutch companies and scientific institutions directly cooperating with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers. The Group has been set up for the purpose of promoting long-term cooperation between Russia and the Netherlands to secure sustainable production, transportation and delivery of energy carriers.

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