The ISSF project is the second phase of the In Salah Gas (ISG) project, which involves development of seven gas fields located in the Saharan desert in Algeria.
First phase of the project was commissioned in 2004 from three fields including Krechba, Teguentour and Reg.
Statoil has 31.85% stake in ISG project while Sonatrach and BP have 35% and 33.15% interests respectively.
The Southern Fields project, which comprises the development of four dry gas fields including Gour Mahmoud, In Salah, Garet el Befinat and Hassi Moumene, will maintain planned production at 9 billion cubic meters per annum.
BP North Africa Regional president Hesham Mekawi said: "The safe start-up of Southern Fields is an important example of the strength and quality of the longstanding partnership between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil and is evidence of BP’s continued commitment to invest in Algeria.
"I am pleased to congratulate the team at In Salah Gas on this significant achievement that will sustain production for years to come."
The partners are planning to continue drilling of 26 planned southern field wells until 2018.
The project comprises a new 500 mmscfd gas dehydration central processing facility close to Hassi Moumene, modifications to existing processing facilities at Reg, Teg and Krechba, 150km of carbon steel export pipelines, 160km of 13% chrome corrosion resistant alloy infield flowlines and the drilling and tie in of the 26 new wells.
Over the next two months, the firms plan to begin production from the Hassi Moumene and Garet el Befinat fields, increasing the production to 14.1 million cubic meters per day.
The In Salah Gas is estimated to hold recoverable resources of 159 billion cubic meters.
