OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2013. Gazprom Neft has begun drilling the first appraisal well for industrial research and testing of the Bazhenov-Abalaksky stratum of the Palyanovskaya zone at the Krasnoleninsky deposit (being developed by Gazpromneft-Khantosom ).

Drilling is carried out under the Company's program, aimed at development of nontraditional and challenged oil reserves. Studies of the Bazhenov-Abalaksky stratum form a part of the project for building up competence in developing tight oil – carbohydrate reserves located in the Bazhenov, Abalaksky and Frolovsky strata in West Siberia's soils of ultra-low openness but high oil content. These reserves are poorly researched.

The Palyanovskaya zone of the Krasnoleninsky deposit is located in the Oktyabrsky district of the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region. Drilling of the appraisal-producing well shall allow recovery of the core from the Frolovsky, Bazhenov and Abalaksky strata of the Palyanovskaya zone and facilitate hydro-dynamic research. Processing of seismic data obtained before drilling, as well as re-testing of previously drilled wells point to the possible industrial development of the Palyanovskaya zone tight oil reserves.

The Company's experts will appraise the results of the drilling and make a decision on further implementation of the project in spring 2013.

Potential estimate of the Bazhenov-Abalaksky stratum of the Palyanovskaya zone is Gazprom-Neft's second project in the study of possible tight oil production. Similar experience is gained by Salym Petroleum Development (SPD) , a joint venture between Gazprom Neft and Shell. The experts of Gazprom Neft, Shell and SPD have drawn up a road map outlining the stages of industrial development of the Bazhenov stratum of the Upper Salym oilfield in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region.