Gazprom Loses Supply from Karachaganak Field

Supply to Gazprom's Orenburg gas-processing plant took a sharp dip yesterday as Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) was forced to cut unstable supply from the Karachaganak field to the plant.

According to an unnamed source in Reuters news agency, the removal of the unstable gas condensate amounts to a 90 per cent withdrawal of the problematic condensate. 

"Gazprom doesn't need the condensate in itself, but the technological process of cleaning the gas relies on the products received via the processing of condensate," Reuters reports the source as saying.

Kazakhstani Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev has stressed that the cutting of supply is not linked to any disputes between Gazprom and KPO but is a necessary action to stabilise gas supply to the plant.

"The reason is the start of the new processing complex at KPO, not any disagreements," Bloomberg reports the minister as saying.

Reuters reports that the Orenburg plant may have to halt production completely to deal with the drop in supply.

BG Group and Eni hold a 32.5 per cent stake in the  Karachaganak field, with Chevron holding a 20 per cent stake and Lukoil holding a 15 per cent stake. The Kazakhstani government, through the state-run KazMunaiGas, is due to take a 10 per cent interest in the field following an agreement with the consortium of companies involved.