The Messoyakhskoye (Messoyakha) Group of Fields include the Vostochno (Eastern) Messoyakhskoye and Zapadno (Western) Messoyakhskoye fields in Russia. They are located in the Gydan Peninsula in the Tazovsky district of the Yamalo-Nenetsk Autonomous Region, approximately 340km north of the Novy Urengoy city.
The three Arctic fields are Russia’s northernmost onshore fields and were discovered in the 1980s. The licences for the fields are held by Messoyakhaneftegaz, a 50:50 joint venture of Gazprom Neft and Rosneft. Gazprom Neft is the operator of the fields.
The estimated investment for implementing the overall project is expected to reach from $15bn to $18bn. The project is central to Gazprom Neft’s aim of producing 100 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe) by 2020.
Pilot development
The project’s pilot development activities started in June 2012. It involved the development of four exploratory wells, two operating wells and one water well at each field. First oil from the pilot project was produced in October 2012. The pilot development activity cost approximately $140m in 2012.
“The estimated investment for implementing the overall project is expected to reach from $15bn to $18bn.”
Initial results from the project indicated that the wells produced at a maximum rate of 250t a day and confirmed that horizontal drilling is probably the best option in developing the Messoyakha fields.
Geological models of the field and detailed reservoir modelling studies were also conducted by Gazpromneft NTC and Halliburton. The latter was subsequently assigned to provide a conceptual framework for the development of the fields.
Reserves
The fields are estimated to hold combined recoverable C1 and C2 reserves of approximately 480 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate, and more than 170bcm of gas.
Messoyakha fields development details
A 3D seismic survey covering an area of 280km² was completed in 2011, and a 3D seismic survey covering an area of 490km² and further refinement of the geological model were completed in 2014.
Full-scale production drilling is expected to start in 2015. Up to 20 development wells and 66 exploration wells will be located at the .site on completion of the overall project. The distance between each drilled wells varies from 3km to 8km.
Primary infrastructure for the project will include a central collection point, a gas turbine thermal power plant (GTPP), a 96.5km-long oil pipeline, and a commercial metering point and custody transfer station at the main Zapolyarye-Purple oil pipeline, which will receive the oil from the fields.
ESPO Pipeline, Siberia
The 4,188km-long ESPO (Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean) oil pipeline exports crude oil from Russia to the Asian Pacific markets.
Ancillary project activities will include the installation of well pads, and construction of an oil gathering system, roads, repair and maintenance facilities, administrative buildings and shift accommodation for 760 people.
Preparatory works for the construction of the field’s infrastructure started in March 2014. As of January 2015, nine reservoirs with a combined capacity of 45,000m³ have been installed at the central gathering facility and the transportation of six 13MW gas-turbine power units is in progress.
Production from the Messoyakha fields
Production from the project will start in late 2016, with the commissioning of the Vostochno (Eastern) Messoyakhskoye field. It is expected to peak by 2023, delivering at a rate of ten million tonnes of oil and five billion cubic metres of gas per annum.
Pipeline construction
Construction of the Messoyakha oil pipeline started in November 2014. Designed for a maximum capacity of seven million tonnes a year, the pipeline will start delivering oil in late 2016. It will connect the fields to the Zapolyarye Purple trunk pipeline system.
The pipeline is being laid from both ends simultaneously. Installation is being performed using special supports and thermal stabilisation of the soil is being performed to protect the layers of the permafrost along the route. The entire pipeline will also be piggy-backed with a special fibre-optic cable for monitoring purposes and will also be equipped with fire-prevention equipment, intruder alarms and a video surveillance system.
The pipeline along the Indikyakha and Muduiyakha rivers will be routed underground using directional drilling technology. Up to 14 through-ways and junctions will be built at strategic locations to facilitate migration of deer herds and travelling indigenous populations.
