Rosneft Begins Surveying on East Prinovozemelsky Blocks

Rosneft has last week begun exploration work on two of its Kara Sea blocks, the East Prinovozemelsky 1 and 2 blocks in Russia, a year ahead of schedule.

Through this exploration, Rosneft will carry out surveying work on both offshore blocks to determine and develop plans for drilling operations. On the East Prinovozemelsky 1 block, Rosneft has contracted Dalmorneftegeophysica to undertake 3D seismic on an area of 3,000 square kilometres. The surveying will be undertaken by three vessels, the company says: the Western Trident,  Neftegaz 61 and Kapitan Kosolapov. 

On the second block, East Prinovozemelsky 2 block, 2D seismic surveying will be undertaken by the vessels Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin and Sleipner over an area of 2D seismic on an area of 5,300 kilometres. This surveying has been contracted to MAGE.

Besides the 3D seismic investigation taking place on the East Prinovozemelsky 1 block, Rosneft says that site investigation work is also being carried out. This will help the company to prepare plans for wildcat drilling on that block.

The company will taken all information gathered from both blocks to devise and guide its progress in the area, including the challenge of managing ice in Arctic projects such as the East Prinovozemelsky 1 and 2 blocks.

Both blocks are estimated to be highly prospective for both oil and gas with the the East Prinovozemelsky 1 block estimated to hold 3,061 million tonnes of oil and 2,418 billion cubic metres of gas. The East Prinovozemelsky 2 block has estimated recoverable resources of 1,199 million tonnes of oil and 1,298 billion cubic metres of gas.