TNK-BP uses new drilling technology in Russia

Tyumenneftegaz, a subsidiary of TNK-BP, has drilled the first five-leg horizontal well in the Russkoe field in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, TNK-BP said in a release August 17. The flow rate of the well exceeded expectations, according to the company, but the well’s actual yield will be known in winter after the construction of a winter road to the field for export of oil.

The Russkoe field is characterized by viscous oil, a large gas cap and permafrost rocks. “This (multi-hole) drilling technology was chosen for better coverage of the reservoir and determination of adhesion and filtration properties of reservoir rocks,” said Evgeny Zadorozhny, CEO of Tyumenneftegaz. “The results of this new drilling technology will be evaluated after the commissioning of the well,” he added.

A total of 21,450 feet was drilled in the Russkoe field in the first half of 2009. Oil production at the field during that period was 136,800 barrels, twice the amount produced in the same period last year. The field is in the Tazovsky district of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, on the east side of the Bay of Obsk. TNK-BP started pilot operation of wells in the field in 2007. The recoverable reserves of the field total an estimated 2.9 billion barrels of oil and 3 trillion cubic feet of gas.

—Sarah Hurst