Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has announced the start of production at the massive Bovanenkovskoye field in the far northern Yamal-Nenets region.
Gazprom chief Aleksei Miller was at the site on October 23 for the launch of operations.
Miller said the field would provide some 46 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2013 and that by 2017 that amount would increase to some 115 bcm.
The latter figure is more than Germany's annual gas consumption of about 100 bcm.
The gas will be shipped westward via a 2,451-kilometer pipeline and is slated for export to Europe.
The field holds an estimated 4.9 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to start production by video link from outside Moscow.
Gazprom chief Aleksei Miller was at the site on October 23 for the launch of operations.
Miller said the field would provide some 46 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2013 and that by 2017 that amount would increase to some 115 bcm.
The latter figure is more than Germany's annual gas consumption of about 100 bcm.
The gas will be shipped westward via a 2,451-kilometer pipeline and is slated for export to Europe.
The field holds an estimated 4.9 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to start production by video link from outside Moscow.