Russia: Gazprom Starts Construction on Large UGS Facility

Yesterday Gazprom has commenced the Bednodemyanovskoye underground gas storage (UGS) facility construction.

Bednodemyanovskoye will become one of the largest UGS facilities in Russia and one of the basic gas storages smoothening seasonal fluctuations in gas supply (also during abnormally cold snaps) in the central part of the country. Besides, the UGS facility will provide for export gas supplies through the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

The Bednodemyanovskoye UGS facility is being created in aquifers at the border between the Penza Oblast and the Republic of Mordovia. A 30 MW gas compressor unit (GCU), a gas treatment unit and gas collection stations will be built, 127 production wells will be drilled and brought onstream as part of the facility construction operations.

The UGS facility will be put into operation in a phased manner. By the 2015–2016 withdrawal season, when the facility is scheduled to become operational, its working gas capacity is to stand at 2 billion cubic meters, a GCU and 41 production wells are to be put into service.

By autumn/winter 2019–2020 the UGS facility is expected to operate at its full capacity: working gas – 5 billion cubic meters, maximum daily deliverability in the beginning of the withdrawal season – 70 million cubic meters, average daily deliverability from December through February – 43 million cubic meters.

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Source: Gazprom, November 11, 2011