OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2012. Gazprom Neft has begun drilling its first production well at Novoportovskoye field. The directional well will be drilled to the depth of 2.2 thousand meters. The work completion is scheduled for summer 2012.

Re-activation of several oil wells at Novoportovskoye field earlier this year resulted in a gushing flow exceeding 140 cubic meters per day. Estimated potential of these wells is 300 cubic meters per day.

Two more wells are scheduled to be re-activated, and four horizontal wells to be drilled in 2012, including one multilateral.

Re-activation and drilling will help gain better understanding of the Novoportovskoye production potential, optimize drilling strategy and well design.

Novoportovskoye oil and gas condensate field is located in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, 30km away from the Gulf of Ob (Russian: Obskaya Guba).

In spring 2011 Gazprom Neft confirmed feasibility of year-round marine transportation of crude from the field. Vaigach atomic ice-breaker has performed the trial trip from Sabetta port (north-east of the Yamal peninsula) to Kamenny Cape, the supposed destination (400 km to the south). This part of the Gulf of Ob stays ice-free for 3 months, from July to September.

Gazprom Neft started preparing for construction of infrastructure required for crude transportation and the field development.

Recoverable reserves of the Novoportovskoye field according to C1 and C2 classification is estimated to be over 230 mln tonnes and over 270 bln cubic meters of gas. Gazprom Neft operates the field while Gazprom Neft Novy Port holds the license.