SICIM achieves first gas reinjection for KEP-1A Project

Full speed ahead for SICIM in Kazakhstan: the KEP-1A Project safely achieved first gas reinjection in July 2024. This significant milestone was reached with the successful operation of the 5th compressor at full discharge pressure, enabling gas from the Karachaganak Processing Complex (KPC) to be reinjected into the reservoir through the new KEP-1A gas reinjection system for the first time.

This milestone, the most critical in the KEP-1A Project, was safely completed liquidating over 18 million man-hours and zero LTIs. Simultaneously, KEP-1B (the sixth compressor) is proceeding at full speed, with a target start-up in the first quarter of 2026. SICIM was awarded this full EPC project, valued at USD 600 million, in 2022 by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) confirming its strong presence in the country since 1999. To date, more than 250,000 inches of piping have been welded, 4,000 tons of equipment have been installed, and 1,400 km of cables have been successfully laid.

Over the years, SICIM’s dedication to local content has been a cornerstone of its operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Demonstrating this commitment, nearly 6,000 people, or 98% of the entire workforce on the KEP project, are Kazakhstani. The completion of the KEP-1A Project represents a major advancement in the continued development of the Karachaganak field, ensuring long-term production stability, economic growth and fostering regional development.

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