LUKOIL uses associated gas for drilling at Sredne-Nazymskoye field

LUKOIL has implemented an ‘oil-associated gas’ utilisation project to be used as an energy source for drilling at the Sredne-Nazymskoye field in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO)-Yugra, Russia.

According to LUKOIL, this technology resulted in reducing the costs of power consumption for drilling by about 50% compared to that of diesel generators.

Under the project by LUKOIL affiliate RITEK, a power centre of seven gas-fired energy generators, an indoor switchgear, as well as two transformer substations were constructed at the Sredne-Nazymskoye field.

LUKOIL said in a statement: “This high-tech solution of associated gas utilisation, plenty of which is recovered from the wells at the Sredne-Nazymskoye field, complies with LUKOIL’s objectives on reducing gas emissions and with the environmental legislation.

“Benefits of this innovation will be used at oilfields distant from power and logistic centers, as well as at fields being developed at the same time as drilling.”

The Sredne-Nazymskoye oilfield has been in operation since 2007.

Last year, 23 wells were drilled as part of an active drilling programme at the field.

In the same year, more than 300,000 tonnes of oil were recovered, while oil production increased 1.5 times when compared to 2018.

In May this year, LUKOIL announced that it has donated more than RUB652m ($9.3m) in 22 regions in the country to support Covid-19 response efforts.

In March last year, LUKOIL reportedly planned to invest more than $60m over the next three years in its ISAB refinery on the Italian island of Sicily, as part of its modernisation plans.