Ukraine is increasing production in order to meet the needs of the population, and in the future – to start exporting gas.
The chairman of the board of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Yury Vitrenko and people’s deputies visited Lviv Oblast on a working visit. Together with the head of the Lviv OVA Maksym Kozytskyi, they visited one of the gas fields of the region.
“Our region has a long history of gas production. It is very gratifying that Naftogaz of Ukraine is implementing new technologies in gas production in the Lviv region. We see that the funds that Naftogaz invests in gas production in our region are yielding results. GPU “Lvivgazvydobuvannya” increases production. People have jobs, the state receives gas and paid taxes. I hope that next year Naftogaz will continue to invest funds in deep drilling and exploration of new deposits. We need to keep investing in 3D seismic. This will make it possible to increase production. We will be with Ukrainian gas,” emphasized Maksym Kozytskyi, head of Lviv OVA.
For example, daily production at the field increased by 26% over the previous 2 years, and additional 3D-seismic geological studies are starting here this year, as a result of which it is planned to find new gas deposits. And this is a prospect for increasing production in Lviv Oblast.
As Yuriy Vitrenko noted, the primary task is to ensure the passage of this year’s heating season.
“Gas reserves in PSG of Ukraine amount to 13.9 billion cubic meters of gas, we continue to pump gas. The repositories are 100% prepared, there are no problems with the infrastructure. Naftogaz does not stop drilling, on the contrary, we increase gas production where we can actively work. Many thanks to our colleagues in the west of Ukraine, who, understanding their responsibility, are increasing production. Since the beginning of the year, it has increased by 2% at GPU “Lvivgazvydobuvannya”. It is important for Ukraine to have more of its own gas now, to be able to meet the needs of Ukrainian consumers in gas and heat,” emphasized the chairman of the board of Naftogaz of Ukraine.
Yuriy Vitrenko added that the national company will increase capital investment in drilling and 3D seismic research. In addition, work is ongoing on the transition of CHP and boiler plants from natural gas to biofuel.
“Also, in Lviv region in particular, we want to switch from gas, for example, to biomass. That is, on the one hand, we switch to cheaper sources of energy where we can, on the other hand, we increase our own production. This will allow us to completely abandon gas imports and, perhaps, start exporting gas next year,” he said.
For reference
Annual gas production in Ukraine reaches about 20 billion cubic meters, of which JSC “Ukrgazvydobuvannya” (part of the Naftogaz Group) produces more than 13 billion cubic meters every year, the rest – private mining companies.
JSC “Ukrgazvydobuvannya” has three GPUs (gas industry departments), which are responsible for gas production in different regions. GPU “Poltavagazvydobuvannya” and GPU “Shebelinkagavydobuvannya” operate in the central and eastern regions, GPU “Lvivgazvydobuvannya” – in the western ones (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi). Each GPU serves several tens of deposits, on which hundreds of wells are working.
Annual gas consumption in Ukraine is about 27 billion cubic meters.
According to preliminary forecasts, the drop in gas consumption in Ukraine this year will amount to 30-40% (to about 20 billion cubic meters), which is primarily due to the shutdown of a number of industrial enterprises (for example, such giants as “Azovstal”) and the departure of Ukrainians abroad because of the war.
The total drop in production this year due to the war since the beginning of the year was about 5%, of which private miners had approximately 11%, JSC “Ukrgazvydobuvanny” – approximately 2%.