developed in Russia in 2019 by PAO Gazprom at the expense of prospecting works

Gazprom is the leader among Russian oil and gas companies and annually provides the main gain of reserves of hydrocarbons in Russia. A share of Gazprom Group in a gain of stocks in our country for 2012-2018 makes 64%. Since 2002 completion of reserves of gas PAO Gazprom steadily exceeds volumes of its production. However, maintenance of size of the general stocks of the company of the category ABC1 at the level of not less than 29 trillion CBM in the current conditions becomes problematic in connection with commissioning in 2022 of new Classification of stocks and expected resources of oil and combustible gases. Therefore correction of strategy of development of mineral resources of Gazprom is possible already in the near future. However, introduction of any significant amendments is not planned in 2020.

For the purpose of search and investigation of deposits of hydrocarbons and also structures for underground storage of gas in the territory of the Russian Federation in 2019 Gazprom executed 0.6 thousand running km of seismic operations 2D and 6.9 thousand sq.km — 3D, finished with construction 17 search and evaluation and prospecting wells, the volume of drilling made 67 thousand meters.
As a result of the performed prospecting works was confirmed opening and two new fields on the shelf of the Kara Sea were included in the State balance of reserves of minerals — unique on classification of stocks of V.A. Dinkov and large Nyarmeysky. Six new deposits are also opened: two in Eastern Siberia and four — in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area (YNAA).
The gain of reserves of hydrocarbons of PAO Gazprom in Russia at the expense of prospecting works made 567.7 million tons of equivalent fuel in oil equivalent, including 555.6 billion cubic meters of gas, as well as 12.1 million tons of oil and gas condensate. Thus, coefficient of completion of gas reserves made 1.11.
The most essential gain of reserves of gas is received on the Kruzenshternsky field on the shelf of the Kara Sea and the adjacent land of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area – 262.9 billion cubic meters. On fields of V.A. Dinkov and Nyarmeysk on the shelf of the Kara Sea – 135.9 billion cubic meters and 67.9 billion cubic meters respectively, as well as the Ludlovsky field on the shelf of the Barents Sea – 48 billion cubic meters.
By the way, according to analytical agency Westwood Global Energy, gas-condensate fields of V.A. Dinkov and Nyarmeyskoye became the largest opening of the first half of 2019 not only in Russia, but also in the world.
In 2019 prospecting works were carried out on 144 license sites, including on 22 sites on the shelf. The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and the European part of Russia, Eastern Siberia and the Far East and also continental shelf of our country became key regions of geological exploration.

Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and European part of Russia

In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area prospecting works were carried out for the purpose of maintenance of levels of production of the operating fields in a zone of Uniform system of gas supply of Russia (ESG) and also preparation for development of stocks of the Tambeysky oil-gas condensate field (OGCF). Works were conducted on license sites of Gazprom Dobycha Nadym, Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg and Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk, and also JSC Severneftegazprom. Thus three directions became key ones: preparation for development of stocks Achimov and Jurassic deposits on the existing fields, search and exploration of reserves of nadsenomansky gas complex, and also preparation for development of stocks of the Neocomian-Jurassic deposits and the accelerated carrying out prospecting works on fields of the Yamal Peninsula.
So, project works were performed on increase of efficiency of drilling and test Achimov and Jurassic deposits. Six wells on the Urengoy, Yamburg and Tambeysky fields are finished with construction. At test of productive layers in all wells inflow intensification methods, including hydraulic fracturing of layer were applied.
Implementation of the Program of the accelerated preparation of reserves of hydrocarbons of a nadsenomansky complex in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area for maintenance of gas production in zone of Unified gas supply system was continued. Drilling and thematic operations (construction of exploration and appraisal wells) on Medvezhye and Vyngapurovsky fields were performed. One of the wells on the Vyngapurovsky field is finished with construction. Thus all wells are drilled with horizontal termination of trunks.
On fields of the Yamal Peninsula project works are performed on additional exploration of the Bovanenkovsky and Tambeysky OGCF and also Harasaveysky gas-condensate field (GKM).
As for the European part of Russia, here, according to the Comprehensive program of development of oil and gas extraction complex of the Astrakhan region developed for the purpose of increase in production of hydrogen sulfide gas and organization of underground storages of sour gases in the water-bearing (nadsolevykh) horizons works on the Astrakhan GKM are begun. In this case a purpose of prospecting works is search and assessment of structures for underground storage of sour gases. In 2019 prospecting works project were developed, a preparatory work to seismic exploration of ZD with a total amount of 900 square kilometers was performed.

Eastern Siberia and Far East

In Eastern Siberia and in the Far East PAO Gazprom conducts prospecting works in the Irkutsk region, Yakutia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, in the territory of the Kamchatka Peninsula and the adjacent shelf and also on the shelf of Sakhalin Island. Geological exploration is carried out for maintenance acting and creations of the new centers of gas production.
So, in Irkutsk region for the purpose of preparation of stocks of the Kovykta GKM (including Handinsky and Chikansky sites) for industrial development 713 sq.km of seismic exploration 3D were executed, in 2019 21.7 thousand running meters of rocks were drilled, one prospecting well was finished with construction, various works on geological studying of subsoil were performed.
In Yakutia works on the Chayandinsky field on design of additional exploration of oil rim and underground storage of helium in rock salt were continued. There was an additional exploration of Tasyoyuryakhsky, Verkhnevilyuchansky, Sobolokh-Nedzhelinsky and Srednetyungsky fields. On the second of them three prospecting wells were finished with construction.
In Krasnoyarsk Krai 50 sq.km of seismic works 3D on the Abakan field were executed, the search and evaluation well No. 6 Imbinskaya was begun with construction (2 thousand running meters of rocks were drilled).
On Kamchatka seismic exploration on recently received sites November-1 is continued, November-2 (northern) and November-2 (southern), 186 sq.km of works 3D are executed.

Russian shelf

The gain of stocks of PAO Gazprom is generally provided due to the accelerated investigation of fields on the Arctic shelf of Russia. The geography of activity of Gazprom Group covers shelves of the Karsky, Barents, Okhotsky and Azov seas. 32 licenses belong to PAO Gazprom. Thereof 16 were received in 2013-2014, one more — in 2019 — the Central Boundary site on the shelf of Sakhalin Island.
Last year key projects of the Group here were prospecting works on the shelf of the Kara Sea (for ensuring completion of a gain of stocks and formation of a strategic reserve) and also the accelerated preparation of stocks on the Central Boundary license site.
Importance of the accelerated preparation of stocks on Sakhalin is connected, first, with need of loading of plant on liquefied natural gas production within the Sakhalin-II project. The matter is that resource base of Lunsky and Piltun-Astokhsky fields will be insufficiently for this purpose beginning since 2028. Secondly, with a need of ensuring supply of the Russian natural gas to China along the «Far East» route, and also reliable gas supply of the Far East of Russia in the long term.
Geological-geophysical exploration of the Central Boundary site is the lowest and uneven. Only one well is drilled here. Therefore in 2019 preparation of the design document was begun and already in 2020 it is planned carrying out of seismic surveys 3D.
As for other shelf projects, last year on all license sites of the Karsky and Barents seas, as well as on sites in Tazovsky and Baydaratsky Bays works on geological studying of a subsoil, including design and exploration work, an assessment of prospects of oil-and-gas content, nature protection actions, development of technical and economic indicators and so on were performed. In particular, on the shelf of the Kara Sea field seismic exploration 3D on the North Harasaveysky license site of 1875 sq.km is executed. A prospecting well is drilled on the Leningrad license site and search and estimated is drilled on Skuratovsky. Both of them confirmed oil-and-gas content prospects — industrial inflows of hydrocarbons with outputs of gas of 1045 thousand cubic m/days and 598 thousand cubic m/days respectively.
As it was already noted, as a result of prospecting works in 2019 two new fields on the shelf of the Kara Sea — of V.A. Dinkov and Nyarmeyskoye the total gain of stocks on which exceeded 200 billion cubic meters of gas were open and taking into account results of prospecting works on the Ludlovsky field on the shelf of the Barents Sea Gazprom developed over 250 billion cubic meters of reserves of natural gas.

Nonconventional resources

Within the Program of development of nonconventional and hardly removable resources of gas in 2019 PAO Gazprom continued implementation of the project on production of methane of coal layers in Kuzbass. As a result of experimental-industrial exploration of the Naryksko-Ostashkinsky CBM field last year 2.199 million cubic meters of gas were extracted.
Last year began implementation of the new design document on development of the Naryksko-Ostashkinsky CBM field with specification of geological model and representation for state examination in 2020. Based on addition to the project of search works preparatory activities to construction already in the current year of six structural wells on Tutuyasskaya Square are executed. The road map of implementation of the project on production of methane of coal layers which key stage is construction of three systems of demonstration wells with the end of construction at the beginning of 2021 is prepared.
One of the priority directions for effective development of mineral resources of Gazprom is implementation of prospect works projects on nadsenomansky gas complex. Preparation for development of stocks of the nadsenomanskikh deposits will allow using existing infrastructure, to prolong terms of operation of the operating fields and, as a result, it is essential to postpone the time of elimination of already used gas fields.

Geological exploration abroad

Gazprom Group realizes complex projects abroad, generally under production sharing agreements, concession agreements and other long-term contracts which provide the integrated performance of work from search and investigation of fields before production and realization of hydrocarbons. The balanced portfolio of projects which provide a stable positive cash flow is created. One of such projects is Incahuasi field in Bolivia on which on Ipati and Aquio blocks gas production and condensate is carried out now. Additional exploration of this field is conducted.
In addition, in 2019 activity of Gazprom Group on projects at the stage of search and evaluation works abroad was carried out. In the same Bolivia on Azero site according to terms of the contract on one of perspective structures of Ñancahuazú drilling of the first search well was carried out. Works in the frames of the Agreement on the main terms of the contract on rendering services in exploration and production on Vitiacua site were continued.
Works on studying of prospects of oil-and-gas content of the shelf of Vietnam were continued. Following the results of processing and interpretation of geological and geophysical materials the feasibility study (FS) on carrying out further works on blocks 129-132 is prepared.
In the Central Asian region Gazprom conducted active work in Uzbekistan. In particular, within implementation of the Agreement on strategic cooperation between PAO Gazprom and JSC Uzbekneftegaz and for the purpose of definition of possibility of participation of Gazprom Group in projects in the territory of the republic works on studying of six perspective investment blocks and an assessment of hydrocarbon potential of Paleozoic deposits in the Bukharo-Hivinsky region were conducted.

Foreseeable plans

In 2020 within prospecting work in the territory of the Russian Federation on oil and gas and also for the purpose of search of structures for underground storage of natural gas Gazprom plans to execute 15.5 thousand sq.km of ZD seismic surveys, to drill 114.5 thousand running meters of rocks, to finish with construction 34 search and estimated and prospecting wells, to receive a gain of stocks in number of not less than 512.7 billion cubic meters of gas and 2.5 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons. The main gain of stocks is planned to receive on the shelf of the Kara Sea, on the Kovykta GKM in the Irkutsk region, and also on Medvezhye, Urengoy and Yamburg fields in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area.
In this year it is planned to continue works on the accelerated carrying out prospecting works on fields of Yamal (Bovanenkovsky, Harasaveysky and Tambeysky). Geological exploration is planned on the shelf and key fields in Eastern Siberia — Kovykta, Chayandinsky and its satellites, on sites in Krasnoyarsk and Kamchatka edges and also on the operating fields in zone ESG in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and in the European part of Russia.
In 2020 on the shelf of the Kara Sea, on condition of existence of sufficient financing, construction of two wells is planned: search and estimated No. 2 with a Skuratovsky depth of 2.1 thousand meters and prospecting No. 5 Leningrad with depth of 2.7 thousand meters, located on the license sites of the same name. The gain of stocks on Skuratovsky and Leningrad license sites is planned at the level of 452.7 billion cubic meters of gas.
On the Central Boundary license site in the current year it is supposed to execute 3 thousand square kilometers of ZD seismic surveys. In the territory of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area (on Bear, Urengoy, Yamburg, Vyngapurovsky fields, and also on Pestsovy and West Pestsovy sites) within implementation of the Senon project and preparation of stocks of the deep-laying horizons on the operating fields in 2020 it is planned to execute 2748 sq.km of 3D seismic surveys, to finish with construction five wells, to receive a gain of stocks of 30.6 million tons of equivalent fuel, including about 29 billion cubic meters of gas. On the Astrakhan field carrying out 3D seismic surveys is planned for 400 sq. km.
Summing up it should be noted that fields of the Arctic shelf are strategic objects for compensation of the falling production in Nadym-Pur-Taz region after 2030. Existence of the operating developed gas transmission infrastructure on the Yamal peninsula predetermines need of development of mineral resources for this area. Prospecting works on the shelf provide the main gain of reserves of hydrocarbons and in the next years will compensate the expected decrease in stocks on fields on the land.
In general in the next five years the main stock addition will be reached due to work first of all in the Kara Sea and also on Tambeysky group of fields, in Nadym-Pur-Taz region, on Yamal and Gydana and also in Eastern Siberia.
Further stock additions are expected due to geological exploration on sites of unallotted fund, closer by 2030 — in the Barents Sea and after 2035 Gazprom plans to make active efforts on carrying out prospecting works for identification of hardly removable stocks.

Strategic prospects

Strategy, policy and plans of prospecting work are defined by the current purposes and problems of PAO Gazprom with a need of achievement of the levels of target indicators approved by the Board of Directors. The company prospecting work main directions in gas business are defined by the Program of development for 10 years and the Program of development of the mineral resources base of the gas industry on the period till 2045. They are developed by JSC Gazprom VNIIGAZ within performance of research and developmental works since 2002.
Today key directions of development of mineral resources base of PAO Gazprom are preparation of stocks of Nadsenomansky, Neocomian, Achimov and Jurassic oil-and-gas complexes (involvement in development of these stocks will provide maintenance of production in zone ESG), development of the mineral resources base on the shelf of the Russian Federation in coordination with terms of input of fields in development for the purpose of providing a gain of stocks and preparation of stocks within creation of the new centers of gas production in the east of Russia. First of all — end of prospecting work on the Kovykta field. Krasnoyarsk Krai is also an important prospecting direction.
Planning of prospecting works is carried out taking into account a need of performance of strategic target indicators of the first level regarding achievement of coefficient of the completion of stocks equal to one, and maintenance of size of the general stocks of Gazprom of the category ABC1 not less than 29 trillion CBM of natural gas. Since 2002 completion of reserves of gas of PAO Gazprom steadily exceeds gas production volumes. Maintenance of size of the general stocks of the company at the designated level in the current conditions becomes problematic in connection with commissioning of new Classification of stocks and expected resources of oil and combustible gases which considers an economic component.
Let’s remind that by 2022 subsoil users are obliged to make a transfer of reserves of hydrocarbons on new Classification, to revise design decisions and to enter the taken gas reserves in the State books. However, already now current reserves of gas on new classification are estimated in volume below value of strategic target indicators of Gazprom of the first level. In this regard its adjustment is possible in the near future. Meanwhile in 2020 introduction of any significant amendments is not planned.
As for foreign projects, in 2015 the company adopted the Strategy, which determined key tasks and principles of development of this direction, including formation of the integrated chains of creation of a value added from geological exploration and production to the end user; optimization of the foreign projects portfolio of PAO Gazprom taking into account intra corporate requirements to their economic efficiency; an intensification of cooperation with strategic partners in the foreign markets and implementation of the joint projects directed on strengthening and development of new technologies and competences; exception of the competition of foreign deliveries to the Russian gas. Considering it, in 2020 Gazprom plans to continue implementation of all assumed license obligations under existing projects in full and in the terms established by obligations, as well as to conduct active search of new economic projects.