Surgutneftegas plans to boost exploration drilling in Eastern Siberia 13% in 2010
MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Surgutneftegas plans to drill 17 exploration wells in Eastern Siberia in 2010, a 13% increase over the 15 wells scheduled for this year, Viktor Kovalenko, the deputy head of the drilling department's technological division, said at the Neftegazservis-2009 conference in Moscow.
The wells will be drilled at three blocks: Peleduisky, Khoronokhsky and Kedrovy.
Production drilling will rise 31.2% to 84 wells next year from 64 in 2009. Most of the production drilling will be at the Talakanskoye and Alinskoye fields.
Exploration drilling volumes will rise 10.8% to 32,280 meters in 2010, up from 29,120 meters this year.
Production drilling in Eastern Siberia will increase 49.8% to 125,000 meters from 83,450 meters.
Production drilling in the region is already ahead of schedule. "We have already exceeded the target by drilling 65,000 meters," he said.
Most of the wells Talakanskoye will be deep horizontal wells. "Of the 64 wells planned in 2009, horizontal wells will make up roughly one-half," he said. They will be 1,750-1,800 meters deep on average.
Surgutneftegas plans to increase the number of drilling crews next year, Kovalenko said.
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