On 9 July, the Scientific Council of the Research Institute of Natural Gases and Gas Technologies (VNIIGAZ) held a Meeting on Sustainable Development of Russia’s United Gas Transmission System (UGTS): Present-Day Status, Problems and Solutions.

The Meeting was attended by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee, Bogdan Budzulyak, Gazprom’s Management Committee Member and Head of the Company’s Gas Transmission, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, Vasily Podyuk, Gazprom’s Management Committee Member and Head of the Company’s Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department, Rudolf Ter-Sarkisov, Chairman of VNIIGAZ’s Scientific Council and VNIIGAZ’s Director General, heads and specialists of a number of Gazprom’s affiliates as well as by researchers and developers from VNIIGAZ, the IM Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University, Oil and Gas Institute of the Russian Sciences Academy and other research institutions of the gas industry.

Opening the Meeting, A. Ananenkov pointed out that Russia possessed one of the world-largest and unique UGTS which was at a highly developed stage. The Russian gas industry is facing a challenge of completing a big scope of work in upgrading gas production installments and gas transmission facilities. In addition, improvement of legislation and introduction of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies will require elaboration of cost-effective and highly efficient projects on upgrading and developing new capacities.

VNIIGAZ’s leading researchers and developers as well as other participants in the Meeting focused their reports on in-depth analysis and scientifically substantiated solutions to the above-mentioned problems. In particular, the parties reviewed issues on secure gas production and sustainable development of the UGTS.

Ultimately, the Meeting commissioned VNIIGAZ to produce a purpose-oriented sci-tech Draft program on enhancing the operating efficiency, security and further development of the United Gas Transmission System of the Russian Federation. The Project is due for Gazprom’s ratification in the 4th quarter 2004.

Reference:

VNIIGAZ is Gazprom’s major Research & Development, Technology & Engineering Center in developing the resource base, gas and gas condensate production, transmission and processing as well as in promoting environmental and industrial safety of the gas industry facilities.

VNIIGAZ is actively involved in upgrading and modernizing gas transmission facilities, studies prospects of applying gas liquefaction technologies in Russia and Russian gas access to the global LNG market.

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