Gazprom Neft enhances production at Sarqala field with third well

Gazprom Neft Middle East has augmented the capacity at its Sarqala field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) with the commissioning of a third production well.

Sarqala-3 is estimated to have a potential production capacity of 12,000 barrels (bbl) a day.

With the launch of the third well, cumulative daily oil production at the field has increased by 25% to 35,000bbl.

Gazprom Neft noted that the well was drilled to a total depth of 3,291m using 11 technological solutions under ‘the challenging geological conditions of the Sarqala field’.

The company used large-diameter casing pipes with thread connections, weighted drilling mud for bottom-hole flushing, and cement comprising mineral-based and iron-oxide additives to construct Sarqala-3.

Gazprom Neft first deputy CEO Vadim Yakovlev said: “The Middle East remains an area of strategic interest to Gazprom Neft, being a region with a rich resource base, and a demonstrable willingness to allow access to investors.

“We are continuing to evaluate opportunities for the further development of our business in the Middle East – independently and in partnership with other companies – both using the synergies offered by existing project infrastructure, as well as at other assets.”

Gazprom Neft operates the Shakal and Garmian blocks in KRI. The Garmian block hosts the Sarqala oil discovery.

The company owns an 80% interest in the Shakal block, while the remaining 20% is held by the KRI Government.

The Garmian block, in which the firm owns a 40% stake, achieved first oil in 2011. Commercial oil shipments from the block began in 2015.

Prior to the commissioning of Sarqala-3, Gazprom Neft completed the expansion of field infrastructure, including a new separation processing line, two 17,000bbl reservoirs, and the reconstruction of the oil-tanker loading system.

The infrastructure was upgraded to ensure greater transportation and storage capacity to meet higher oil production as a result of the new well.

The Sarqala-2 well came onstream in the first quarter of last year.