GTG takes operatorship of Algeria’s Touat gas project

Groupement TouatGaz (GTG) has formally taken over as operator of Neptune Energy Group Ltd. and Sonatrach’s jointly held Touat natural gas project in Algeria’s Sbaa basin, 1,500 km southwest of Algiers, near Adrar (OGJ Online, Feb. 20, 2019; Feb. 16, 2018).

Técnicas Reunidas (TR), which has carried out day-to-day operation of the natural gas plant since gas exports began in September 2019, transferred operatorship to GTG following the parties’ signature of a performance acceptance certificate on June 24, Neptune Energy said.

“The Touat plant continues to operate well, emphasizing the growing importance of the North Africa business in Neptune’s geographically-diverse and gas-weighted portfolio,” said Philip Lafeber, Neptune’s vice-president for North Africa and Asia Pacific.

Spanning more than 1,300 sq km across the Sahara Desert, the Touat project—which includes 19 development wells, a treatment plant for gas and stabilized condensate, a gathering network, and connection to the Sonatrach-built main GR5 pipeline for transporting gas from southwest Algeria to Hassi R’Mel, about 800 km north—achieved its plateau production of 450 MMcfd in April 2020, according to Neptune.

Representing about 9% of Algeria’s total gas exports, the Touat project will be in production for more than 20 years, Neptune said.

Established in March 2010, GTG partners include Neptune Energy Touat (65%) and Sonatrach (35%). Neptune Energy Touat, in turn, is jointly owned by Neptune (54%) and partner Engie E&P International SA (46%).