New gas fields opened in northern Croatia.
INA has started trial production of gas at two gas exploitation fields in Međimurje, Vučkovec and Zebanec, and in early 2017 it is expected to launch production at the Vukanovec exploitation field as well, reports Index.hr on July 29, 2016.
It is expected that the new gas production in the second half of 2016 will increase the INA’s overall production of hydrocarbons to an average level of 2 MBOE/d (thousand barrels of oil equivalents per day), which is a five percent increase compared to the current level. Additional growth is expected in 2017 as well. Conditions for new production were created after the successful implementation of the Međimurje project. In the last two years, the works have been performed on the construction of necessary mining and related facilities, announced INA.
The project includes five production wells and a total of 100 kilometres of new pipelines, of which 73 kilometres refers to the pipeline which transports the gas produced in Međimurje towards the Molve Central Gas Station for further processing. “Planned commercially recoverable quantities of gas are about one billion cubic metres in the period until 2024. This increase in the INA’s total domestic gas production is important, both for our company and for Croatia”, said Želimir Šikonja, executive director for gas and oil exploration and production.
INA invested 450 million kuna in the Međimurje project, and its successful implementation means that the hydrocarbon production will return to the area after a 25-year break. Demanding construction works were performed by four consortiums comprised of several Croatian companies.
“We are proud of the fact that this project has been successfully implemented by Croatian companies and we are aware of the impact that our company has with its production activities on the overall Croatian economy. With the launch of gas production in Međimurje, INA has once again proved that it has the knowledge, experience and skills necessary for successful implementation of such complex projects”, said Zoltan Aldott, CEO of INA.
