OREANDA-NEWS. March 19, 2013. 200,000 tons of extra-viscous oil (EVO) have been produced at Ashalchinskoye field of JSC TATNEFT since the beginning of its development. The planned production of EVO for 2013 amounts to 117,5 thousand tons.

The target of the Company's commercial extra-viscous oil development is Sheshminsky horizon of the Cheremshano-Bastrykskaya zone Ufimian Stage. Development of Ashalchinskoye field is carried out by "Nurlatneft" Oil and Gas Production Board of JSC TATNEFT.

The management of JSC TATNEFT sets an ambitious task to accelerate drilling-out operations at the EVO field. The Company has worked out a business project for the development of Ashalchinskoye EVO field till 2030 providing for drilling 10 pairs of horizontal wells per year.

A vast set of technical activities including creation of gas and heat supply systems as well as the facilities of production, treatment and transportation of viscous oil has been planned for implementation of the tasks set.

Construction of a water line and gas pipeline and increasing the boiler room throughput as well as a number of other actions have been planned for the current year.

The impetus for the effective development of this project is benefits in the form of export duty reduction for viscous oil deposits.

For the successful development of extra-viscous oil deposits the Company is also planning to attract international best practices and the latest technologies in the development of hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves. Such an opportunity will be provided by cooperation with "Skolkovo" Innovation Center, which JSC TATNEFT signed an agreement with on creation and deployment of the Company's Scientific and Research Center in the territory of the Innograd (innovation city). The SRC will begin its work with the development of technology of produced water utilization for steam generation in extra-viscous oil production.