Nezalezhnist drilling rig to allow Ukraine extracting 1 bcm of gas per year, says Azarov

The Nezalezhnist self-elevating floating drilling rig, which was bought by the state-run enterprise Chornomornaftogaz (Simferopol, Crimea), will allow Ukraine to extract an additional 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"This drilling rig will be placed on the well and start drilling at the end of the year. We will start the actual extraction of gas at the end of 2013. We will get an extra 1 bcm of gas every year," he said at a meeting with education sphere workers to mark Teacher's Day in Kyiv on Friday.

It was reported on October 2 that the Nezalezhnist is moving towards the Bosphorus, to get to the Black Sea from the port of Kavala in Greece, after which it will be towed to the Odesa field. It is expected that the drilling rig will be placed on the well by the end of the year.

As of today, the drilling rig has been transported from Singapore through the Indian and Atlantic oceans, the Java, Mediterranean, Aegean, and Marmara seas. It was transported by the Xiang Yun Kou heavy lift vessel for most of the route. The drilling rig was set afloat at the port of Kavala.

As reported, Chornomornaftogaz is upgrading its production facilities with the support of its parent company – national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy.