* Ukraine drones hit Russia's Orenburg gas processing plant * Gas from Karachaganak is being processed at the Orenburg plant * Shell, Eni, Chevron are among Karachaganak stakeholders (Adds quote, background) By Mariya Gordeyeva ALMATY, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Kazakhstan's Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field has cut production volumes following "an incident" at Russia's Orenburg plant, the operator of the field told Reuters in an emailed statement on Tuesday. On Monday, two industry sources told Reuters that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Orenburg gas processing plant, one of the world's largest, forced neighbouring Kazakhstan to reduce production at the Karachaganak field by 25% to 30%. Ukraine, which has stepped up strikes on Russia's energy facilities in recent months, confirmed it hit a gas plant in the Orenburg region, some 1,700 km (1,060 miles) east of the Russian border with Ukraine, and an oil refinery in the Samara region. Output at Karachaganak on Monday was down to between 25,000 metric tons (196,500 barrels per day) and 28,000 tons from the usual level of 35,000-35,500 tons, according to two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Kazakhstan's energy ministry also said on Monday that Karachaganak trimmed production. The ministry and the operator did not provide production data. The ministry said production at Karachaganak was expected to return to normal once operations at the Orenburg plant resume, with gas reception at the facility anticipated soon. Karachaganak is operated by a consortium which includes U.S. major Chevron (18%) and European energy firms Shell (29.25%) and Eni (29.25%). Russia's Lukoil (13.5%) and local firm KazMunayGaz (10%) also hold stakes. (Reporting by Mariya Gordeyeva in Almaty; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Lincoln Feast.)
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