Novy Urengoy today hosted the celebrations on the occasion of the pilot production launch at section A1 of the Achimov deposits in the Urengoy oil, gas and condensate field.

Taking part in the event were Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, Jurgen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, Reinier Zwitserloot, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Wintershall Holding AG, Yury Neyolov, Governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, as well as the leadership of Gazprom dobycha Urengoy and Achimgaz.

In his welcoming speech Alexey Miller declared: “Gazprom and BASF are linked by more than 15 years of successful cooperation, participation in large-scale infrastructure projects and joint gas supply operations in Europe. Today we are adding a new chapter to the history of our partnership. Jointly with our German partners we have launched gas production from the Achimov deposits in the Urengoy field, which are more complex to develop, compared to the traditional Cenomanian and Valanginian deposits.

We believe Achimgaz is a model of successfully organized joint business between Gazprom and a foreign partner in hydrocarbon production in Russia”.

“We not only receive natural gas and market it jointly with Gazprom, but we also produce it together in Russia. For Germany and Europe this means higher reliability of gas supplies.

The Achimov deposits as well as the Yuzhno-Russkoye field are extremely significant to us. On joining these projects BASF has become the first European company actively participating in natural gas production in Western Siberia fields,” stated Jurgen Hambrecht.

Background:

Section A1 of the Achimov deposits at the Urengoy oil, gas and condensate field was commissioned in July 2008.

Based on the results of geological exploration, the productivity of the Achimov deposits is confirmed on a vast territory of the Nadym-Pur-Taz region. Major recoverable hydrocarbon reserves of the regional Achimov deposits are concentrated in the Urengoy oil, gas and condensate field.

Achimov deposits lie at depths of 3,600-3,800 m and have much more complex geological structure compared to the Cenomanian and Valanginian deposits that are being currently developed.

BASF SE is one of the leading gas and petrochemical companies in the world. BASF SE’s production activities are performed along the following primary lines: the production of chemicals, synthetic materials and plant protection products, as well as hydrocarbons production and transportation.

Wintershall Holding AG is a 100-percent subsidiary of the BASF concern, operating in the energy sector. Gazprom and Wintershall Holding AG have been collaborating for more than 15 years. The companies have created the WINGAS and WIEH joint ventures.

BASF SE is partnering with Gazprom in developing the Yuzhno-Russkoye field and constructing the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Achimgaz was founded on a parity basis by Gazprom and Wintershall Holding AG in July 2003. The venture was created for the purpose of developing the first pilot section of the Achimov deposits of the Urengoi oil, gas and condensate field. Gazprom dobycha Urengoy (Gazprom’s wholly-owned subsidiary) is the license holder for the Urengoy field.

Over the entire development period (43 years) some 200 bcm of gas and 40 mln t of condensate are planned to be produced. The rated capacity is circa 8.3 bcm of gas and 2.8 mln t of condensate per annum.

The joint venture is the project’s operator and the owner of the infrastructure being installed on the section. All the rights for the output and its marketing belong to Gazprom. The profit will be distributed between the partners in accordance with their respective stakes in the project, i.e. 50 per cent each.