OREANDA-NEWS. JSC Gazprom Neft has hosted the 'Exploration and field development in East Siberia' industry conference in St. Petersburg for the third time. The event provided experts from oil companies and specialist scientific research institutes with the opportunity to share their experiences of exploration and field development in East Siberia, as well as to discuss the unique aspects and current issues associated with opening up oil and gas reserves in this region. The consolidation of knowledge acquired through different projects in East Siberia will assist companies in establishing the best approaches for future development of the significant raw materials reserves there.

JSC Gazprom Neft's strategic plans include the development of a new production centre in East Siberia. JSC Gazprom Neft is currently continuing geological exploration as part of the Chona project which includes three fields (Ignyalinskoye, Tympuchikanskoye and Vakunaiskoye) located on the border between Irkutsk Region and the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The total reserves of the Chona project are estimated at 125 million tonnes of oil and 225 cubic metres of gas. JSC Gazprom Neft is working with the Japanese company JOGMEC at the Ignyalinskoye field, but is working independently at the other two fields. The company is fully complying with the terms of the licence agreement (the subsoil user is the JSC Gazprom Neft subsidiary Gazpromneft-Angara).

In the Chona project, JSC Gazprom Neft was the first Russian company to use the innovative UniQ technology developed by Schlumberger. UniQ is a unique system of geophysical equipment and computer software designed for high-resolution seismic acquisition. The UniQ seismic system was used in the 2013 field season over 350 square kilometres in the Tympuchikansky and Vakunaisky areas. As a result, 16 times more data was collected than would have been possible using traditional 3D seismic survey methods.

In 2013, the total volume of work carried out on the three fields of the Chona project comprised 500 square kilometres of 3D seismic survey, 2,500 linear kilometres of electrical exploration, the drilling of four exploration and appraisal wells, and repeat testing of four previously drilled wells. Pilot development work has commenced at the Tympuchikanskoye field and trial production is underway. The design for the Chona project's surface infrastructure has been developed.

The main focus for the coming year is to carry out research and prepare for pilot development work. In 2014, 3D seismic surveys will be carried out on 900 square kilometres (including 600 square kilometres using UniQ technology), and up to 4,500 linear kilometres of electrical exploration. Plans include the drilling of five exploration and appraisal wells, repeat testing of one previously drilled well, and starting commercial test production at two wells. Work will also start this year on locating sand quarries and rocky soil to provide materials for site access roads. Sites will be prepared for the construction of the main production facilities during 2016-2018, including oil treatment facilities, a commercial oil pipeline, a delivery and acceptance point, energy supply facilities, etc.

JSC Gazprom Neft is also acquiring experience in East Siberia through its involvement in the development of the Kuyumbinskoye field as a shareholder in Slavneft. To date, 69 exploration and appraisal wells, four parametric wells, and seven development wells have been drilled at the field. Plans for 2014 include drilling of a further eight producing wells, carrying out a 3D seismic survey over an area of 1,100 square kilometres, refining our understanding of the field geology, and preparing the designs for the infrastructure, including the location and capacity of commercial facilities. At present there are five wells at Kuyumba, which are intended for exploration and commercial test production; predicted initial flow rates at a level of 120-140 tonnes per day have been confirmed. The plan is to bring the field into commercial production within three years.