Ukraine continues gas withdrawals from underground storage facilities as cold weather sets in

Ukraine has reduced natural gas reserves in its underground gas storage facilities by 15.7%, or by 2.63 billion cubic meters (bcm), since the start of the 2014-2015 heating season, according to preliminary data from gas transport operator Ukrtransgaz.

As of October 20, Ukrainian facilities had 16,749,640,000 cubic meters of gas, while this figure was 14,120,770,000 cubic meters as f November 29.

During the week ending on November 29, Ukraine withdrew 107.04 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas per day, while during the week ending on November 22, gas withdrawals were 85.5 mcm of gas per day.

As reported, Ukraine began using gas from underground gas storage facilities on October 20, having taken around 10 mcm out from the facilities on the first day.

By December 31, 2013, Ukraine's underground depots contained 14.765 bcm of gas, including 13.952 bcm stored in the depots of Ukrtransgaz and 813 mcm in the depot of Chornomornaftogaz. As of April 1, 2014, natural gas stocks in Ukrtransgaz's depots totaled 7.202 bcm.

Last year Ukraine pumped 11.635 bcm of gas into its underground depots, but took out 12.67 bcm, 8.9% more than it had put in. Of the amount that was removed, 12.33 bcm were taken out of Ukrtransgaz's depots and 337 mcm out of Chornomornaftogaz's depot.

Ukraine's 13 underground depots can hold around 32 bcm of gas. Ukrtransgaz operates 12 of them (31 bcm of gas) plus the country's gas pipeline network. Chornomornaftogaz operates one depot (1 bcm of gas).

After Crimea's accession, Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy had not been receiving information from Chornomornaftogaz since March 14, 2014, on the storage, extraction, transport or use of natural gas, oil or condensate.