Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Members of the Special Headquarters of the Ministry of Energy checked the readiness for operation in the autumn-winter period of the Khojaabad underground gas storage (UGS).

The analysis of the state of affairs at this important object is carried out within the framework of the ongoing from September 8 of this year. a visiting meeting of the Special Headquarters in Andijan region with the aim of directly acquainting with the readiness of regional energy and gas supplying enterprises for a stable supply of consumers in the autumn-winter period of 2020-2021.

There are two large underground gas storage facilities in Uzbekistan, one of which is Khodjaabad. The experts noted that the process of preparing for the season, when the need for stable gas supply increases with the onset of cold weather, is currently proceeding in accordance with the established plan.

At present, specialized specialists of Uztransgaz JSC and the German side are carrying out joint repair work to put the gas engine into operation. The head of the headquarters, after talking with foreign and local officials, gave appropriate instructions to ensure the safe operation of the network in the shortest possible time.

It should be noted that this underground gas storage with a compressor station was built in 1996-1998 on the basis of the completed formations of the Khojaabad oil and gas field in order to reliably supply the population and facilities of the Fergana Valley with natural gas in winter.

The facility consists of an underground gas storage facility with a volume of 900 million cubic meters. m of gas, as well as gas pumping units. The complex includes a compressor station with a total capacity of 42,300 kW, two gas collection points, and 62 gas wells are in operation.

The main activity of the Khojaabad UGS facility is to receive gas from the main gas pipeline to the compressor station at a pressure of 20-25 atmospheres in the spring and summer season. The amount of gas is measured here, it is cleaned of liquids and various mechanical particles. The gas pressure is compressed to 250 atmospheres and, after cooling, is pumped into gas wells.

Thus, gas pumped through gas wells accumulates in subterranean formations. In the autumn-winter period, gas reserves accumulated in underground formations are again collected through wells and accumulated at collection points for subsequent transfer to the gas treatment shop. Here, the gas is purified in low-temperature separators and then fed to the main gas pipelines.