13 Jan 2010 12:52

Surgutneftegas to drill more in 2010

MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Surgutneftegas drilled a total of 3.915 million meters in 2009, the inhouse Neft Priobya newspaper reported, citing deputy head of drilling Felix Yakhshibekov.

"The company had 46 drilling teams in operation in Western Siberia last year and 10 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Ten of 16 teams from the exploration operations division were engaged in building exploration wells. Total penetration for the year will equal 3.915 million meters," he said.

In 2010, production drilling alone is slated to total 3.946 million meters, he said.

If that target is achieved, Surgutneftegas will post yet another annual increase in production drilling. Surgutneftegas had planned to increase production drilling last year 3.6% to 3.44 million meters. It planned to reduce exploration drilling compared with 2008 and increase production drilling.

RTS$#&: SNGS