Photo credit: Press-service of the President of Russia

Russia's northernmost onshore oilfield, Vostochno-Messoyakha, was officially put on production. Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Gazprom Chairman of the Management Committee Alexey Miller and Chairman of Gazprom Neft Management Board Alexander Dyukov took part in the event.

The command to start oil shipment from Vostochno-Messoyakha field was given by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin via a video linkup.

Vostochno-Messoyakhsky license area is located on the Gydan Peninsula, in Taz region of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. The nearest settlement, Tazovsky village, is located 150 km away from the field. The project has been executed in an autonomous mode, given its remoteness from the industrial and transport infrastructure:   about 400 thousands tons of cargo have been delivered to the field by water and by winter motor roads, over 2015-2016.

Due to modern technical and engineering solutions, Vostochno-Messoyakha fielld infrastructure was built within less than 3 years. Currently, there are 51 active oil wells in the field and a 98 km long supply pipeline connecting the field to Zapolyarye-Purpe main pipeline. The pipeline is insulated to protect it against low arctic temperatures. To prepare the high-viscous oil of Vostochno-Messoyakha field to transportation, it is heated at the central oil treatment facility. Two electric power stations, at the field and at the crude oil delivery and acceptance point, with aggregate capacity of 90 Mwt , fully cover the field demand for electricity. Production at Vostochno-Messoyakha field will reach its peak in 2020, amounting to 5.6 mln tons of oil.

Complicated geology of the field required application of the latest drilling, well construction and reservoir pressure maintenance techniques. In order to enhance reservoir management efficiency, up-to-date methods were applied, including multi-hole wells.

Special techniques were used in infrastructure development to minimize the negative impact on the Arctic environment. For instance, in order to preserve the integrity of permafrost zone, the supply pipeline was laid above the ground, on special supports equipped with a thermal stabilization system. Underwater river crossings of the oil pipeline were built using directional drilling method. This helped preserve the wild landscape of Indikyakha and Muduyakha rivers undisturbed. In certain locations the pipeline is equipped with beam water crossings and special passages for animals in places of their migration.

“Our company has provided access to advanced technologies utilized while implementing complex projects, such as Vankor, that became flagman production projects of the world oil industry, said Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin in his report to the President of Russia.  – Due to intense competition on global hydrocarbon markets it is of vital importance for the Russian oil and gas industry to maintain production and bring new fields into production.  Only into the field launched today the amount of RUR 250 bln was invested. In such conditions, the industry requires tax   stimulation so that we could be competitive on the world markets. We believe that the benefits under review should contain universal approaches based on reservoir qualities, oil physical and chemical qualities, field watercut level and infrastructure availability.

Beneficial regime, according to Rosneft CEO, should be based on universal criteria such as reservoir properties, oil physical and chemical properties, field watercut level and infrastructure availability. 

Igor Sechin also reported to the President of Russia that Suzun field, a part of Vankor cluster, located at the same latitude, 150 km away from Vostochnaya Messoyakha, will be ready for start-up in a month.  Its production will make 1.2 mln tons this year (average annual production plateau amounting to 4.5 mln t/year). Rosneft CEO said that the next important milestone of the cluster development will be the launch of Tagul field.

Rosneft Information Division
September 21, 2016