(Ecofin Agency) - BP on Tuesday announced the commencement of activities at its In Salah Gas project in Algeria.

The Southern Fields project is a joint venture between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil. It is the most recent stage in the development of seven gas fields in central Algeria. It includes the development of four dry gas fields: Gour Mahmoud, In Salah, Garet el Befinat and Hassi Moumene.

In Salah Gas joint venture started production in 2004 from three fields; Krechba, Teguentour and Reg in the north of the area.

According to BP, developing the Southern Fields will maintain planned production of 9 billion cubic metres each year.

“The safe start–up of Southern Fields is an important example of the strength and quality of the longstanding partnership between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil and is evidence of BP’s continued commitment to invest in Algeria. I am pleased to congratulate the team at In Salah Gas on this significant achievement that will sustain production for years to come,” Hesham Mekawi, the North Africa regional president of BP said.

The Drilling of 26 intended southern field wells started in 2014 and is expected to carry on till 2018. The scope of the project consist of a new 500 Mmscfd of gas dehydration central processing facility near Hassi Moumene, brownfield modifications to current processing facilities at Reg, Teg and Krechba, 150 km of carbon steel export pipelines, 160 km of 13% chrome corrosion resistant alloy infield flowlines and the drilling and linking of the 26 new wells.

Production is scheduled to increase to 500 Mmscfd as the wells in the Hassi Moumene and Garet el Befinat field will commence operation in the next two months, Energy Voice reports.

Anita Fatunji