OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2008. The Research Institute for Natural Gases and Gas Technologies (VNIIGAZ) hosted the opening of the 2nd International Conference “UGS: Sustainability and Efficiency” (UGS-2008). Taking part in the Conference is a Gazprom delegation headed by Bogdan Budzulyak, Member of the Company’s Management Committee, Head of the Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department.

Bogdan Budzulyak noted in his speech that the development strategy of Gazprom as a global energy company envisaged reliable and uninterrupted gas deliveries to Russian and foreign customers even during peak seasonal loading of the Unified Gas Supply System of Russia.

In order to ensure reliable gas supply under the conditions of growing demand, Gazprom is active in exploring new production regions, implementing large-scale gas transmission projects and upgrading the UGSS.

Particular attention was paid to a crucial element of the UGSS operational reliability – underground gas storage (UGS) facilities. “The current level of the UGS system development enables to daily withdraw up to 620 mcm of gas during peak loads, which is commensurate with the maximum amount of gas pumped for export purposes,” said B. Budzulyak.

Speaking about the outlook for UGS, the speaker emphasized that as part of the 2005-2010 Action Program for Underground Gas Storage Gazprom was planning to take into operation about 16 bcm of active capacity, 15 compressor shops with a total capacity of more than 530 MW and hook up more than 300 UGS wells.

Furthermore, work is currently underway on issues surrounding the construction of UGS facilities, including helium storage facilities, in East Siberia and the Far East as an integral part of an integrated gas production, transmission and supply system being created in the region.

The Conference will last for three days through May 23.