By Prior Beharry
GAS production has increased in July and August after a 22% decline in June due to maintenance by the major upstream producers.
This was revealed in a release on Monday from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI).
The release stated, “… the MEEI advises that natural gas production for the month of June 2024 was impacted by the conduct of maintenance activities by three of the major upstream gas producers resulting in a 22% reduction in production when compared to the previous month.
“This decrease in natural gas production was transparently reflected in the Consolidated Natural Gas Monthly Bulletins for the period January-June 2024 which is published on the MEEI’s website, www.energy.gov.tt.”
According to the bulletin, gas production in June was 1.959 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d).
The figures show that February recorded the highest production for the year thus far with 2.7 bcf/d.
Gas production for January to June 2024 in bcf/d:
- Jan – 2,545
- Feb – 2,734;
- March – 2,641;
- April – 2,467;
- May – 2,504; and
- June – 1,959
The release stated that the maintenance activities undertaken by major energy players bpTT, Woodside and Shell were planned a year in advance and are an essential component of compliance with government regulations.
It stated, “Among these activities were turnarounds which are proactive measures to ensure the safety of all personnel on the respective facilities as well as the optimisation of processes aimed towards improving production and overall efficiency.
“The MEEI advises that the decrease in natural gas production was sheltered within the natural gas value chain by planned turnarounds at Train IV at Atlantic LNG, Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited and the Urea plant at Nutrien Ltd for the month of June 2024.
“The MEEI further advises that with the completion of these said activities, preliminary data shows that natural gas production for the month of July 2024 increased to 2.3 BCF/D and further increased to 2.7 bcf/d in August with production for Q4 2024 projected to average at 2.5 bcf/d.”
