Neptune Energy and Sonatrach announced that first gas has gone in to its Touat project in Algeria as part of project commissioning. The development, which will produce around 75,0001 barrels of oil equivalent per day (450 million standard cubic feet per day) at plateau, remains on track to commence gas export production by the end of the first half of 2019.

Touat comprises eight gas fields and a gas processing plant and is located in the Basin of Sbaa, 1,500 km southwest of Algiers, near Adrar.

The development work involved drilling 18 new development wells, along with building a road, aircraft runway, living quarters and gathering network and gas treatment facilities.

Development work also involved the installation of a connection to the main GR5 pipeline, built by Sonatrach, to collect the gas from South West Algeria and bring it to Hassi R'Mel (located around 800 km to the North).

Jim House, Neptune CEO, said: “First gas in at Touat marks a significant milestone for this important project. We are now focused on delivering commercial full export production by the end of the first half of the year”.

In March 2010, the Algerian joint venture Groupement TouatGaz was established as the operator of the development and production operations. Neptune Energy holds an indirect equity interest in GTG. Its partners are Engie and Sonatrach.

About Neptune Energy

Neptune Energy is an independent global E&P company and, having completed the acquisition of the exploration and production business of the ENGIE group in February 2018, is now active across the North Sea, North Africa and Asia Pacific. The business had production of 160,500 net barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first three quarters of 2018 and 2P reserves at 31st December 2017 of 542 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Company, founded by Sam Laidlaw, is backed by CIC and funds advised by Carlyle Group and CVC Capital Partners.

About Sonatrach

Sonatrach is the largest oil and gas company in Algeria and Africa. The company operates in exploration, production, pipeline transportation and marketing of hydrocarbons and by products.