Uzbekistan's oil fields to utilise petroleum gas

The oil and gas production company Saneg and the GRDC Science and technology centre have launched an associated petroleum gas (APG) utilisation programme at fields in the Kashkadarya region.

The utilisation technology, which is being used in Uzbekistan for the first time, involves the use of modular compressor units for compressing APG and its subsequent transportation to treatment and processing facilities.

The project involves the construction of two modular compressor units at North Shurtan and North Urtabulak, as well as the installation of zeolite dehydration, gas treatment and supply pipelines.

In the first phase, the project is being implemented at the North Shurtan and Turtsari fields, where Saneg is the subsoil user. Total APG utilisation in the two fields is 53,000 cubic metres per day (2,200 cubic metres per hour).

A second compressor unit is currently being prepared for commissioning, which will utilise low-pressure gas from the Yangi Karatepa, Karatepa and Ruboii fields in an amount of 60-70 thousand cubic metres per day.

"The main obstacle to utilisation remains the remoteness of the fields and weak infrastructure. By optimising resources, we will be able to use APG efficiently instead of burning it up in vain. The treated gas will be used to meet the needs of the population, in particular for sales at gas filling stations and for power generation at gas-fired power plants. In this way we will be able to achieve both environmental and economic benefits," said Saneg Executive Director Tulkin Yusupov.