Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, July 7 -- Algeria’s Sonatrach and GDF Suez SA of France announced plans to develop the Touat gas license in west-central Algeria in the Timimoun basin, near Adrar.
This follows an exploration and appraisal campaign that began in 2003 with seven wells. The development plan was approved by the National Agency for the Promotion of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT)
Development will start this year with gas production due on stream in 2013 and peaking at 4.5 billion cu m/year.
Sonatrach and GDF Suez will jointly operate the Touat project involving development of 10 fields in an area of 3,000 sq km on which 40 production wells will be drilled. The project also includes construction of gas collection and processing installations as well as a connection to the pipeline Sonatrach is planning to build to link fields in the area to Hassi R'Mel.
Sonatrach will be in charge of selling the gas produced. GDF Suez is one of the largest liquefied natural gas companies in the world and the largest buyer of Sonatrach's LNG.
The 10 fields are Hassi Ilatou, Hassi Ilatou Cambrien, Hassi Ilaout Nord Est, Gour Nefrat Gedinnen, Gour Nefrat Ordovicien, Bou Hadid, Bou Hadid Ouest, Oued Hamou, Oued Zine, and Sbaa.
Photo from Odfjell Drilling.
