Gazprom and Wintershall Dea have achieved production of first gas and condensate from Area 4A in the Achimov formations of the onshore Urengoyskoye field in Western Siberia, Russia. 

The companies’ joint venture Achim Development has also started hot commissioning of Area 4A. According to Wintershall Dea, the hot commissioning process involves filling up of the production complex with raw gas to test it under operating conditions. 

After the hot commissioning is successfully completed, Achim Development will move ahead with commercial production of hydrocarbons. The joint venture is also planning to start the commissioning process for Area 5A in the first quarter of this year. Area 5A is also part of the Achimov formations. 

Area 4A/5A is located north of Area 1A of the Urengoyskoye field. Since 2008, Achimgaz, a 50:50 joint venture between Wintershall Dea and Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, has been producing gas and gas condensate from the Area 1A block. 

The Achimov formations lie at a depth of nearly 4,000m. They are characterised by very high formation pressures, which makes the development of Area 4A/5A a technological challenge. Gazprom and Wintershall Dea plan to drill more than 140 wells in Area 4A/5A.