OREANDA-NEWS. July 27, 2007. OAO NOVATEK today reported preliminary production data for the second quarter and first half 2007.

Gross production for the second quarter totaled 7.29 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 593 thousand tons of liquids (gas condensate and crude oil). Gross natural gas production increased by 230 million cubic meters, or by 3.3%, and gross liquids production decreased by 40 thousand tons, or by 6.3%, as compared with the corresponding gross production in the second quarter 2006.

Gross production for the second quarter totaled 14.90 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 1.21 million tons of liquids. Natural gas production increased by 580 million cubic meters, or by 4.1%, whereas gross liquids production decreased by 59 thousand tons, or by (4.6%) as compared with the corresponding gross production in the first half 2006.

Total gross liquids production in the 2007 periods was in line with Company forecasts and takes into account the natural decline in the concentration of gas condensate, due to decreasing reservoir pressure at the current gas condensate producing horizons, at the East-Tarkosalinskoye and Khnacheyskoye fields and the temporary production stoppage in June 2007 due to planned maintenance and repair work at these fields.

In the second quarter and first half 2007, NOVATEK processed 500 and 1,020 thousand tons of unstable gas condensate at the Purovsky Gas Condensate Processing Plant (Purovsky Plant).