"The reserves available in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area from 2006 to 2009 give us confidence to forecast an increase in natural gas output by 25-30 billion," a local news center quoted the report as saying.
The Yamal peninsula, which forms the northwestern part of the province, and adjacent Arctic offshore areas, "have been described as a key region serving as a basis for expanding local raw materials," the news center said. "Potential gas reserves in the region have been estimated at 50 trillion cubic meters."
In particular, the report said, production at the Bovanenkovskoye and Kharasaveiskoye gas condensate fields, most likely to be commissioned, should be launched before 2011.
The Yamal peninsula possesses about a half of Russia's oil and gas reserves in more than 200 deposits. Local recoverable gas and oil reserves amount to over 30 trillion cubic meters and 10 billion metric tons, respectively, the report said adding that only 25% of discovered deposits were currently being developed.
The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area is the world's largest region for natural gas output, which accounts for over 90% of Russian and about 20% of global gas output.
Russia's third largest Bovanenkovskoye field was discovered in 1971. Its reserves have been estimated at 4.1 trillion cubic meters of gas.
