The Severo-Vaiskiy and Srednevaiskiy license blocks are located in the Kondinskiy district of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and are of 502 and 211 square metres in size, respectively. According to data from the State Register of Mineral Reserves, total recoverable oil reserves at both blocks are estimated at 1.467 million tonnes of oil (C1+C2). Initial reserves in place are estimated at 81.9 million tonnes of oil. The licenses are valid until 2043, including five years for geological prospecting.

Three exploration and appraisal wells had previously been constructed at these blocks, and 2D seismic undertaken — resulting in the discovery of oil fields of the same name: the Severo-Vaiskoye and Srednevaiskoye fields. These new assets are adjacent to the Zapadno-Zimniy license block, where Gazpromneft-Khantos discovered the Alexander Zhagrin field in 2017.

Gazprom Neft plans to complete 3D seismic works at the blocks by the end of 2020, as well as completing the processing and interpretation of this, and will determine locations for exploration drilling in 2021. The blocks will be brought into commercial production in 2025 following completion of all geological prospecting works.

Alexei Kan, CEO, Gazpromneft-Khantos, commented: “Securing subsoil usage rights to the Severo-Vaiskiy and Srednevaiskiy blocks is consistent with Gazpromneft-Khantos’ strategy of expanding its resource base, including by developing territories adjacent to already licensed areas.”