The global giant, BP, together with the Algerian company, Sonatrach, and the Norwegian major, Statoil – the three joint venture partners in In Salah Gas Field – have commenced production from the In Salah Southern Fields (ISSF) project in Algeria, Energy Business Review reported. The Southern Fields project involves the development of four dry gas fields: Gour Mahmoud, In Salah, Garet el Befinat, and Hassi Moumene. Over the next two months, the firms plan to begin production from the Hassi Moumene and Garet el Befinat fields, increasing the production to 14.1mm³/d.

The In Salah Gas Fields are estimated to hold recoverable resources of 159bm³. Developing the ISSF will maintain JV’s planned production at 9bm³/y, according to Energy Global. This part of the project is the latest stage in the development of seven gas fields in central Algeria.

Drilling of 26 southern field wells began in 2014 and is scheduled to continue until 2018. The project’s scope includes a new 500mft/d of gas dehydration central processing facility close to Hassi Moumene and brownfield modifications to existing processing facilities at Reg, Teg, and Krechba. It further covers 150 km of carbon steel export pipelines and 160 km of 13% chrome corrosion resistant alloy infield flowlines.

The joint venture commenced production in 2004 from three fields in the north of the area: Krechba, Teguentour, and Reg.