OREANDA-NEWS. January 09, 2007. Belorusneft plans to drill through around 85,000 metres of rock in 2008. The company’s prospecting and production drilling plans for 2008 roughly correspond to this year’s targets, Belorusneft’s Deputy Director General for Geology Valery Beskopylnyi told, reported the press-centre of Belorusneft.

In his words, there are plans to complete building around 20 new wells next year, including four prospecting wells and 16 production wells.

In summer 2008 the company plans to complete drilling Belarus’ deepest well. As deep as 5,720 metres, the appraisal well is located in the Rechitsa region in the flood plain of the River Berezina. The well is expected to provide an insight into the presence of porous formations, the structure of this ancient reservoir trap and how deep deposits of gas condensate are.

Valery Beskopylnyi remarked, the company did well in 2007 accomplishing its exploration work plans. The targeted increase in commercial oil reserves was exceeded by almost 100%, he said. The company also accomplished its oil extraction plans for 2007.

Production Association Belorusneft was founded in 1966. It is part of Belarusian petrochemical concern Belneftekhim. The company performs oil finding, prospecting and exploration of oil fields, well drilling, the extraction of oil and associated gas. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis, in January-November 2007 Belarus extracted 1,613 million tonnes of oil, 98,9% as against the same period of 2006. In 2006 Belarus extracted 1,78 million tonnes of oil, 99,7% as against 2005.