Gazprom drilling ongoing at oil field in Arctic Russia
Another well will be completed by the end of June, Gazprom Neft Director for offshore projects Andrey Patrushev says.
“Exploration drilling is ongoing at the field, it will be completed in June”, Patrushev said on Friday at the St Petersburg Economic Forum. Several more wells will be drilled in the course of the year, he added in his speech availble on the forum website.
The Prirazlomnoye field is Russia’s first and only offshore Arctic oil project. It is now headed by Andrey Patrushev, Gazprom Neft’s new director for offshore projects.
Four wells planned in 2015
As previously reported, a total of 300,000 tons of oil was reported to have been produced at the Prirazlomnoye in 2014. The company intends to drill a total of four new wells in the area in the course of 2015.
“Production is ongoing and it is progressing pretty successfully”, Patrushev said in a session devoted to Russian Arctic developments. “Despite the difficult macroeconomic conditions, the project is working efficiently”, he argued, adding that projected production peek of 5,5 million tons per year will be reached from about year 2020.
Key partnerships
Patrushev also stressed that Gazprom Neft will fully follow up its Arctic license portefolio in compliance with the license obligations.
Gazprom Neft has developed a shelf strategy which includes a series of geological explorational efforts in 2016. In that process, the company will most likely have to team up with partners. According to Patrushev, Gazprom Neft “has always been open for partnerships, both with foreign and Russian companies”. However, he stresses, “we are not in a deficit of possible partners”
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Unconventional petroleum resources found in Canada’s Sahtu region…. Now what?, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finns still sharply divided over wind power, Yle News
Greenland: Arctic oil and gas must stay in ground to restrict warming to 2°C says study, Blog by Mia Bennett
Iceland: From Arctic Circle 2013-2014, a big drop in the price of oil, Blog by Mia Bennett
Norway: Norway surpasses Russia as top gas supplier, Barents Observer
Russia: Statoil and Rosneft prepare for drilling despite sanctions, Barents Observer
United States: Let locals decide fate of Arctic drilling says U.S. politician, Alaska Dispatch News
