Infrastructure
Demonstrating the value of our infrastructure
Over the last 16 years we have built a world-class infrastructure processing hub that is currently underutilised but that can support the production and sale of billions of cubic meters of gas in north-western Kazakhstan for years to come.
The core strategy for Nostrum to create value for its stakeholders is to commercialise the investment made in its infrastructure, the focus being on filling the spare capacity with third-party hydrocarbons.
Oil treatment facility
The oil treatment facility (OTF) has a maximum throughput capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum. The OTF associated infrastructure includes a gas-lift facility that was commissioned in 2015 and a liquid hydrocarbons pumping station transferring crude oil and stabilised condensate via the liquids pipeline to the rail loading terminal.
In 2021, 1.297 mmboe of condensate and 1.270 mmboe of oil was transferred through the pipeline. Up to 560km3 recycled lift-gas per day was compressed and made available to enhance oil production.
Raw gas processing infrastructure
The gas treatment facility (GTF) is designed to treat raw gas from gas condensate reservoirs (and the associated gas coming from the OTF) into condensate, LPG and dry gas with a by-product of granulated sulphur. The gas treatment facility includes three gas treatment units (GTU1,2 & 3) which have the capacity to treat 4.2 billion cubic metres of raw gas per annum.
Gas Lift System
A Gas Lift system (GL) has been installed to enhance well production; current installed capacity is 23,000 standard cubic metres per hour with a plan to further increase to 38,000 standard cubic metres per hour in Q4 2022 as future demand is expected to increase as the Chinarevskoye field matures.
Low-pressure system
A low-pressure system (LPS) has been installed to facilitate the reduction of the GTF inlet pressure from 42 to 10 bar, so as to prolong the run-life of wells, primarily gas-condensate. Installed capacity of gas compression is 48,000 standard cubic metres per hour in total with 19 wells flowing through the LPS as of the end of 2021.
Power generation plant
The gas-fired power generation plant is linked to the GTF and has an output of 26 megawatts electrical power. The generation capacity of the plant is sufficient to meet the existing and maximum need in the future if the plant is run at its maximum capacity. Backup generation capacity of up to 15 megawatts is available at the processing facilities.
Storage facilities
Nostrum has over 35,000 cubic metres of storage capacity for liquids at its field site and rail loading terminal.
Gas pipeline
Nostrum has its own 17km dry gas pipeline which is linked to the Orenburg-Novopskov gas pipeline. The pipeline has sufficient capacity to export the entire GTF maximum production capacity dry gas volumes.
Liquids pipeline
Nostrum has its own 120km liquids pipeline that runs from the field to the Company’s rail loading terminal near Uralsk. The pipeline has a maximum annual throughput capacity of over three million tonnes.
Rail loading terminal
Nostrum has its own automated rail loading terminal at Beles, located near the city of Uralsk, that receives all produced crude oil and condensate and has a capacity of approximately four million tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons per annum.
KTO pipeline connection
Nostrum has constructed a secondary crude oil pipeline to enable export sales from its rail loading terminal via the Atyrau-Samara export pipeline operated by KazTransOil (KTO). The connection to the KTO pipeline has enhanced the Company’s ability to maximise crude oil netbacks through the commodity cycle.
Additional third-party volumes
Nostrum is focused on entering into additional agreements which can fill all the remaining capacity at its GTF. Nostrum is working with counterparties to secure long-term streams of raw gas from which it can generate significant revenues.