Oil and gas projects in Sakhalin are expected to produce over 24 million tons of oil and 61 billion cubic meters of gas by the year 2020, according to the Governor of Khabarovsk region Alexander Khoroshavin.
The development of Sakhalin 3, 4, and 5 projects is planned to take place in 2015 – 2020.
At the present time, the exploration of geological formations is taking place at the Veninsky segment of Sakhalin 3, as well as at Kaigano-Vasyukansky, East Shmidtovsky, and West Shmidtovsky sections. Exploration at the Pogranichny block at Sakhalin 6 is also underway.
Recoverable reserves have been discovered at the Venin and Kaigano-Vasyukansky blocks. The North Veninskoye gas condensate deposit was classified as a “major” field.
Three-dimensional seismic exploration has already been conducted, and drilling operations have commenced.
Rosneft is taking part in the exploratory assessments in association with foreign partners. British Petroleum participated in the exploration of West Shmidtovsky and Kaigano-Vasyukansky. Sinopec is working at the Veninsky section.
Gazprom has the license to the Kirinskoye natural gas field. One exploration well has been drilled already.
Exploratory activity has also started at other sections of Sakhalin-3. Gazprom acquired the licenses for the East Odoptu, the Ayashsky, and the Kirinsky blocks of Sakhalin-3 this year. Surveying is planned for these sections in 2010.
Altogether, the reserves explored at Gazprom’s blocks are similar to those found at Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2. If the reserves are confirmed, a new wave of construction activity will take place in the region.
Alexander Ananenkov, who is the deputy chief executive officer of Gazprom, said in early September that the company was indeed conducting seismic surveys of Ayashsky, East Odoptu, and Kirinsky blocks.
In early 2009, Gazprom intends to drill 2 exploratory wells at the Kirinsky field. Seismic surveys of East Odoptu and Ayashsky blocks will also be completed. Gazprom executives are determined to expedite exploratory work and gain access to the reserves as quickly as circumstances allow.
Gazprom managers think that the Kirinsky block, whose maximum gas reserves have been estimated at 960 billion cubic meters, will start producing in 2017 – 2018. The estimates for Ayashsky and East Odoptu blocks are 400 billion cubic meters. The production of gas at the Kirinsky field will start in 2014.
The products will be transported to the Russian market through the Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok pipeline, the construction of which started in the summer of 2009. Gazprom is building the pipeline.