Novoportovskoye oil field

Stage I 1964–1970

• 31 exploratory wells drilled
• Reserves appraisal

Stage II 1979–1987

• 86 exploratory wells drilled
• Re-evaluation of reserves

Stage III 2000–2012 Gazprom Dobycha Nadym

• Pilot production –20 wells, 3D seismic
• Reserves appraisal and assessment of oil recovery

Stage IV from 2012 Gazpromneft Novy Port

• 42 production wells drilled
• Production development plan endorsed

While 117 exploratory wells had been drilled by 1987, proactive development of this asset did not begin until after 2010, when Gazprom took the decision to transfer it to Gazprom Neft.

Gazpromneft-Yamal is currently operator on this project.The licence for Novoportovskoye was transferred from Gazprom to Gazprom Neft in early 2012. In May 2016, Gazprom Neft started year-round shipments of oil through the newly-built oil-loading terminal "Arctic Gates".

Low-permeability reservoirs, multiple tectonic abnormalities leading to significant fragmentation of deposits), and a significant gas cap all contribute to making development of the Novoportovskoye field difficult.

The viable production of high-quality, low-sulphur oil in Yamal has been achieved through the use of cutting-edge technologies, including the construction of horizontal and multilateral wells, and the use of multistage fracking.

Gazpromneft-Yamal’s subsoil usage rights to the Novoportovskoye field were extended to 2150 in 2016, making this the longest license term in Gazprom Neft’s asset portfolio.

The challenge of shipping oil from the field was resolved by Gazprom Neft specialists, together with academics from the Krylov State Research Centre, who developed a route for the year-round transportation of crude by tankers, supported by nuclear icebreakers.

The feasibility of this project was confirmed by the company in 2011, following an experimental passage by a nuclear icebreaker through the shallow-water ice of the Gulf of Ob, from the port of Sabetta (north-east of the Yamal Peninsula) to Cape Kammeny.

The first consignment of Novy Port oil was despatched to European consumers via the Northern Sea Route in summer 2014, with winter shipments commencing in 2015.

Sending crude to Northern Europe from Novy Port is an optimum solution in all sorts of ways: it is, geographically, the nearest field to this import-dependent region - which, moreover, specialises in refining light (low-sulphur) oils such as Novy Port oil.

The company has put in place its own icebreaker fleet to service the Novy Port project, including 6 Arctic tankers, and 2 diesel - electric icebreakers.

Implementing this project should see the Gazprom Neft’s Arctic asset reach peak production, at 8 million tonnes of oil per year, by 2021. Recoverable reserves in the northern section stand at more than 27.8 million tonnes of oil, and 28.5 m3 of gas. The company’s investment in developing this field is expected to reach RUB 86 billion.