Galkynyş Gas Field: Turkmenistan’s Natural Gas Giant

The Galkynyş Gas Field, located near Ýolöten in the Mary Province of Turkmenistan, stands as the world’s second-largest natural gas field. Operated by Türkmengaz, the site represents a critical asset in Turkmenistan’s energy infrastructure and international trade strategy.

The field was discovered on November 2, 2006. It was previously known as the Ýolöten gas field or the South Ýolöten – Osman field before being officially renamed Galkynyş in November 2011.

Reserve Estimates and Technical Specifications

The Galkynyş Gas Field is characterized by its immense scale and depth. The field occupies a zone of 2,700 square kilometres, measuring 90 kilometres in length and 30 kilometres in width. The gas deposits are located at depths ranging from 3,900 to 5,100 metres.

Reserve estimations for the field vary across different audits and reports:

• Estimated gas in place is 14,000 billion cubic metres (490 trillion cubic feet).
• Proven commercial reserves are recorded at 2.8 trillion cubic metres (99 trillion cubic feet).
• General estimates place total reserves between 4 trillion and 14 trillion cubic metres.

In 2008, the field underwent an audit by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA). The audit concluded that Galkynyş was five times larger than the Döwletabat gas field and ranked as the fourth- or fifth-largest gas field globally at that time.

Development and International Partnerships

The development of the field involved significant international cooperation. Late Turkmen president Saparmyrat Nyýazow invited the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Turkish firm Çalik Enerji to participate in the exploration and development of the site.

In December 2009, formal contracts to develop the field were awarded to a consortium including CNPC, Hyundai Engineering, and Petrofac. This partnership facilitated the technical infrastructure required to bring the field into production.

Production at the Galkynyş Gas Field officially commenced in September 2013.

Industrial Expansion and Diversification

Beyond the extraction of raw natural gas, the Galkynyş Gas Field has evolved into a hub for vertically integrated oil and gas distribution. This expansion includes the development of downstream chemical production to add value to the extracted resources.

A notable development in this diversification was the commissioning of a plant for the production of carbon black, which was put into operation on April 18, 2022. The President of Turkmenistan visited the facility on January 3, 2022.

Regional Economic Context

The management of the Galkynyş field aligns with broader national efforts to expand energy cooperation. This includes ongoing initiatives to broaden oil and gas collaboration between Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The field’s capacity for massive output continues to position Turkmenistan as a primary energy supplier in the Asian market, supported by the infrastructure established through its partnerships with Chinese and South Korean engineering firms.