NOVATEK SPUDS FIRST WELL IN NORTH-OBSKIY AREA

PAO Novatek announced that its subsidiary OOO Arctic LNG 3 commenced drilling of the first well at the license area located in the shallow waters of the Ob, in North Obskiy area. The initial well is drilled using a jack-up floating drilling rig Amazon leased from Gazpromflot. The drilling process is based on zero discharge principle, whereby all of the waste products are collected and transported 125 km to Sabetta onshore base.
“We commenced drilling our first well at the North-Obskiy license area characterized with significant geological potential and favorable location in terms of logistics,” – according to Leonid Mikhelson, Chairman of NOVATEK’s Management Board. “The license area is in close proximity to the exit from the Ob Bay in its Northern part, which provides the convenient passage of vessels and requires no approach channel. Arctic LNG 3 potentially represents the next stage in implementing Novatek’s development strategy to increase LNG production in the Russian Arctic region”
The Ob Bay known as the mouth of the Gulf of Ob, is in the Kara Sea between the Gydan and Yamal peninsulas. It is about 1,000 km (620 mi) long and varies in width from about 50 to 80 km (31 to 50 mi). The gulf is relatively shallow, with an average depth from 10 to 12 metres (33 to 39 ft). (Source: Novatek – Image: Amazon jackup/Gazprom)