Sakhalin-2 Prepares to Bring Previously Untapped Reserves of the Lunskoye Field into Development

Sakhalin Energy (a subsidiary of Gazprom, operator of the Sakhalin-2 project) is beginning the practical implementation of measures to develop previously untapped reserves of the resource base of the Sakhalin-2 project.

The main source of feed gas for the Sakhalin-2 LNG plant is the Lunskoye oil, gas and condensate field (OGCF). Its development, which began in 2009, is carried out under natural depletion conditions with declining reservoir pressure.

Currently, the Lunskoye OGCF is at a mature stage of development:

• more than 50% of natural gas reserves have been produced,
• more than 90% of the production well stock has been implemented,
• a gas compression unit (booster compressor station) has been put into operation.

At present, the gas reservoir in Blocks 2–6 is being developed. Block 1 is not being developed due to its distance from the platform. Production is carried out using a single offshore ice-resistant fixed platform (Lunskaya-A).

Now Sakhalin Energy has announced plans to conduct comprehensive offshore engineering surveys at the storm mooring site for the development of Block 1 of the Lunskoye field. It is planned to study the engineering conditions of the site, including relief, geological structure, and engineering-geological conditions, as stated in the hearing materials.

It should be recalled that in 2023, the Central Commission for the Development of Mineral Resources (CDMR) of Rosnedra approved a new version of the development plan for the Lunskoye OGCF. The approved scenario allows extending the period of stable gas production from the Lunskoye field by 5 years (until 2033) and ensures an increase in recoverable hydrocarbon reserves comparable to several years of field development. At that time, it was noted that additional sources of feed gas for the LNG plant could be the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye OGCF, as well as the Ayashsky subsoil block of Gazprom Neft.

The new field development project is also aimed at:

• ensuring uniform gas offtake throughout the year;
• equalizing the reservoir pressure profile across the field;
• increasing the period between well workovers.

The Sakhalin-2 LNG plant:

• is located in Prigorodnoye in the south of Sakhalin Island,
• was commissioned in 2009,
• reached its full design capacity of 9.6 million tonnes per year of LNG in 2010;
• subsequent optimization programs increased its capacity by 20%, to 11.5 million tonnes per year of LNG;
• in 2023, Sakhalin Energy produced more than 10 million tonnes of LNG, in 2024 — 10.2 million tonnes, in 2025 — 10.3 million tonnes;
• LNG from the project is mainly supplied to the markets of Japan, South Korea, and China.

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