Arctic offshore oil more than doubled in Russia
Russia’s Gazprom increased oil production at its Prirazlomnaya platform 2.5 times last year.
The platform in the Pechora Sea in 2015 produced more than 800,000 tons of oil. The total amount shipped from the field since start of production in December 2013 is 1.1 million tons, Gazprom Neft Shelf’s press service reports.
Two production wells and one injection well are currently in production at Prirazlomnaya.
According to General Director of Gazprom Neft Shelf, the company plans to double production at the field in 2016.
Field reserves
Prirazlomnoye is the world’s first project involving oil extraction on the Arctic shelf using a stationary platform. Production started in December 2013, and the first shipment of oil left in April 2014.
Field reserves are estimated to about 72 million tons of oil and peak production of five million tons is planned for about 2020.
The field platform received the world’s attention in September 2013, when two journalists and 28 activists from Greenpeace, later dubbed “the Arctic 30”, were arrested and imprisoned in Murmansk for over two months, following a protest against Arctic drilling.
Gazprom Neft uses two specially designed ice-breaking tankers to transport the oil from the Arctic – “Kirill Lavrov” and “Mikhail Ulyanov”.
According to Gazprom Neft, oil spill preparedness around the Prirazlomnaya is of top standard. It includes emergency stand-by duty by two multi-functional icebreakers and a vessel with equipment for gathering up oil spills.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Energy challenges in Canada’s North, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Helsinki City Council to close coal plant, Yle News
Norway: Japan wants wind power from Arctic Norway, Barents Observer
Russia: No alternative to Arctic oil says Russia environment minister, Barents Observer
Sweden: Will Sweden be able to produce enough energy in the future?, Radio Sweden
Russia: Sanctions, low oil prices cost Russia $600 billion, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: New Alaska rules may help renewable energy projects, Alaska Public Radio Network
