KPO starts engineering work for gas plant constructionKarachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO), the operator of the Karachaganak oil and gas field in west Kazakhstan, has announced the start of engineering work for the construction of a gas processing plant, the company said in a Tuesday press release.“Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) and its shareholders are pleased to announce the achievement of another milestone in the maturation of the 4BCMA Karachaganak Gas Plant (KGP). The Consortium led by Hyundai Engineering Co. will commence Early Engineering work,” the press release says.KPO and its shareholders remain dedicated to close cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan to further explore all parameters essential to assess the KGP project viability, according to the press release.Currently, 9 billion cubic meters of Karachaganak gas undergo processing at Russia's Orenburg Gas Processing Plant (OGPP) before being returned to Kazakhstan for domestic market sales. The Karachaganak operator is considering increasing gas production from 9 to 13 billion cubic meters annually without significantly affecting liquid hydrocarbon production. To accommodate this, a field-based gas processing plant is planned, scheduled for launch between 2028-2030.The Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field ranks among the world's largest, boasting reserves estimated at 1.2 billion tonnes of oil and 1.35 trillion cubic meters of gas. Operated by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V., the consortium includes Shell with a 29.25% stake through its affiliate BG Karachaganak Ltd, Eni (29.25%), Chevron (18%), Lukoil (13.5%), and KazMunayGas (10%). Since 1997, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating has been developing the field under a 40-year production sharing agreement. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX