Neptune Energy Group, London, and Algeria’s Sonatrach have started natural gas production as part of the commissioning of the partnership’s Touat project in the Sbaa basin, 1,500 km southwest of Algiers, near Adrar.
The development, which will produce about 450 MMcfd of gas at plateau, remains on track to begin gas export production by the end of this year’s first half, Neptune Energy said.
Touat comprises eight gas fields and a gas processing plant.
Project development involved drilling 18 development wells, along with building a road, aircraft runway, living quarters, gathering network, and gas treatment complex, as well as installation of a connection to the main GR5 pipeline, built by Sonatrach, to collect the gas from southwest Algeria to bring to Hassi R’Mel, about 800 km north.
In March 2010, the Algerian joint venture Groupement TouatGaz (GTG) was established as the operator of the development and production operations.
Neptune Energy, which acts as project operator, holds an indirect 35% equity interest in GTG alongside partners Sonatrach 35% and Engie E&P International SA (formerly GDF Suez SA) 30% (OGJ Online, Feb. 16, 2018).
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].
