Severneftegazprom develops new method for Turonian formation

• Patented technology enables the development of the hard-to-recover Turonian reserves

• More than 120 new Turonian wells are set to be drilled between 2020 and 2033 to extend the plateau production from the reservoir

Severneftegazprom, the joint venture between Gazprom, Wintershall Dea and OMV, has developed its own method for producing gas from Turonian formations. The new technology represents an important step in developing the complex Turonian reserves in the Yuzhno-Russkoye oil, gas and condensate field in Western Siberia, and is one of the most important milestones in Wintershall Dea’s production development in Russia. The Russian patent office, Rospatent, confirmed the innovative nature of the method by approving the company’s patent application.

“This success is testament to the excellent collaboration between the project partners, whose experience and unique know-how in developing the geologically challenging Turonian formations have flowed into the new patent. Delivering this complex project required a pioneering spirit and excellent engineering skills from the international team. That is something we can be proud of. Because this method contributes significantly to the production efficiency and to increasing the production capacities from the Yuzhno-Russkoye field,” says Thilo Wieland, Wintershall Dea’s Executive Board member responsible for Russia.

After production from the Cenomanian layers of the reservoir reached plateau in 2009, the joint venture embarked on its next challenge: in 2011, Severneftegazprom became the first company in Russia to drill test wells in the hard-to-recover Turonian formations. In 2020, the first clusters of Turonian wells were commissioned as part of the full field development.

Due to the impermeability of the porous sedimentary rock, the extraction of Turonian gas requires state-of-the-art technology and innovation-driven engineering. The gas production technology developed by Severneftegazprom harnesses different methods and technologies in a novel combination. The unique feature of the new method is that the horizontal directional wells are aligned along the minimum stresses. This forms a system of parallel fractures oriented along the natural fracturing lines. The patented technology is already successfully in use and has proven its effectiveness. It is therefore helping the joint venture to maintain plateau production from the Yuzhno-Russkoye field for longer.

More than 120 new Turonian wells are scheduled to be drilled between 2020 and 2033. With an annual production volume of about 25 billion cubic metres of natural gas, the Yuzhno-Russkoye field makes an important contribution to Europe’s supply security as a raw material base for delivering gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline.

_{About Wintershall Dea}

_{Wintershall Dea is Europe’s leading independent natural gas and oil company with more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 13 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Russia, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business.}

_{Wintershall Dea was formed from the merger of Wintershall Holding GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG, in 2019. Today, the company employs around 2,500 people worldwide from over 60 nations.}