Gazprom Neft, TNK-BP launch trial-industrial development at Messoyakha
MOSCOW. June 25 (Interfax) - Gazprom Neft and TNK-BP have begun trial-industrial development at the Messoyakha field, a project they control on a parity basis, it says on the website of Gazprom Neft, which is the Messoyakha operator.
The first production well is being drilled at the deposit, which will reach to 1,800 meters in depth. The plan is for this work to be completed in July. Last month, during trial-industrial preparations at the deposit, Gazprom Neft drilled a well that will be used as a water well.
In all this year, plans call for drilling up to three production and one water well, along with four prospecting wells. Testing of the production wells will begin this summer.
Full-scale development of the Messoyakha group will be possible only after the Zapolyarye-Purpe oil pipeline's construction has been completed.
Earlier, Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Fedorov told Interfax that the Messoyakha and Yurubcheno-Tokhoma projects could enjoy lower duties under the new method for establishing rates. The ministry is hoping that this new method will be approved and confirmed before the end of the year, he said.
The Messoyakha group of deposits includes the Eastern and Western Messoyakha fields. CJSC Messoyakhaneftegas holds the licenses to both blocks. Recoverable C1 and C2 oil reserves are estimated at 6t20 million tonnes - the bulk being heavy and very viscous.
Gazprom Neft and TNK-BP view Yamal deposits as a "growth point" for their production in the next few years. Initial estimates put their investments in the development of the Messoyakha group of deposits at as much as $15-$18 billion.
