Production at Messoyakha is currently running at more than 11,400 tonnes of oil per day. Development of the hard-to-recover reserves here has involved the use of a wide range of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, together with high-technology drilling. Approximately 210 development wells are now operating at the Vostochno-Messoyakhskoye field, 14 of which have been constructed using “fishbone” technology, involving multiple wells branching off from a single horizontal shaft. Messoyakhaneftegaz plans to drill more than 20 further fishbone wells at the field by the end of 2018, as well as more than 90 horizontal lined wells (“cased holes”).

The business will this year continue its construction of second-phase field infrastructure, and plans to take its development of deep deposits at the Vostochno-Messoyakha field into active development. Geological and technical initiatives undertaken to date include the implementation of new EOR techniques and the re-testing and re-commissioning of prospecting wells at the Zapadno-Messoyakhskoye field. In addition to this, construction of further prospecting wells is also planned, allowing the further development of this asset and reducing geological uncertainty.

Messoyakhaneftegaz CEO Victor Sorokin confirmed: “Increasing the pace and volume of production under Arctic conditions is impossible without active geological exploration, which helps reduce significant uncertainties and the search for solutions to technological challenges. The business is currently developing not more than 30 percent of the area covered by the licence block, and initiatives in exploration help mitigate the lack of data on the structure and the quality of the hard-to-recover reserves at Messoyakha. Information obtained during exploratory drilling is helping us select the right technologies for well construction in the light of the complex geology, improve the oil recovery factor (ORF), ensure viable production, and develop new and promising reserves.”