Natural gas

  Potential (prognostic and perspective) resources of natural gas of Russia are estimated in 151,3 tln. cubic m that are about 40 % of world gas resources . However the most authentic perspective resources are in this volume of all about 20 %, and approximately half have on prognostic resources of category D2 which estimation is least authentic.

  About half of perspective resources settles down in Western Siberia, more a quarter – on shelves of Barentsev and Karsky seas. The overwhelming part of lprognostic resources of gas is concentrated in the Asian part of Russia and in the seas of Arctic regions and Far East.  

  For Russia s characteristic high degree of concentration of reserves of natural gas  – 71,2 % of the proved reserves are concentrated in 28 unique deposits (with balance reserves more than 500 bln. cubic m), more 21,6 % are concluded in 86 large (75-500 bln. cubic m) objects.

  Thus only less than thirds of proved reserves  of free natural gas of Russia can be developed with application of the approved technologies in domestic practice and is in areas where is  developed gas-transport infrastructure and gas-processing capacities; that is less than third of proved reserves  concerns to highly effective.

  For involving in development other part of reserves are required or other technologies of mining, or construction and commissioning of new transport systems and gas-processing plants , or both.
In 2008 OJSC "Gazprom" enterprises receive 551,8 bln. cubic m of natural gas, or 84 % extracted in the Russian Federation. It on 0,6 bln. cubic m (on 0,1 %) below level of 2007

  The oil and independent oil and gas companies (not entering into structure of group "Gazproms") are controling totally 22,9 % of the proved reserves of natural gas; in 2008 they have provided extraction 105,1 bln. cubic m
(16 % of mining of the Russian Federation), it on 2,4 %, or on 2,6 bln. cubic m less, than in 2007.
  
  Among the independent companies the leader remains to OJSC "Nonatek" though it and has lowered annual extraction in comparison with 2007 on 0,3 bln. cubic m (on 1,0 %); this company occupy second place on volumes of gas production after holding "Gazprom", on its share in 2008 was 5,2 % of the Russian extraction (28,5 bln. cubic m).The petroleum industry enterprises have extracted 57,0 bln. cubic m of gas (8,7 % of extraction of Russia), having shown insignificant growth – on 0,9 %. OJSC " Rosneft ”» was in  lead, increased indicators of gas extraction on 14 % in comparison with 2007, OJSC "Surgutneftegaz" has lowered level of an annual gas production on
3,3 %, OJSC "LUKOIL" – on 2,7 %.

  Extracted natural combustible gas in Russia is used mainly in the power purposes. Processing of natural gas is conducted directly on crafts (on plants of complex preparation of gas) or on located near to gas-processing plants. However it is carried out on minimum level, mainly, for the purpose of preparation of "fat" gas for transportation.