| Verkhnechonskoye field | |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Region | Eastern Siberia |
| Location | Kataganskiy district, Irkutsk Oblast |
| Offshore/onshore | onshore |
| Operator(s) | Verkhnechonskneftegaz |
| Partners | TNK-BP (68.51%) Rosneft (25.94%) East Siberian Gas Co. (5.48%) |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 1978 |
| Start of development | 2002 |
| Start of production | 2008 |
| Production | |
| Current production of oil | 23,500 barrels per day (~1.17×106 t/a) |
| Year of current production of oil | 2009 |
| Estimated oil in place | 1,886 million barrels (~2.573×108 t) |
| Estimated gas in place (billion cubic meters) | 95.5 |
| Producing formations | Precambrian formations |
The Verkhnechonskoye field is a giant oil field in Eastern Siberia, Russia. The field is located in Kataganskiy district, Irkutsk Oblast, about 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) north-east from Irkutsk. It is considered the largest oil field in Eastern Siberia.[1]
The field was discovered in 1978 and development started in 2002.[2][3] Pilot operation of the field was started in 2005 and on 15 October 2008, first oil produced at the Verkhnechonskoye field was delivered.[2][4] As of 2007, total proved reserves of Verkhnechonskoye were 409 million barrels (65.0×106 m3) of oil equivalent, and proved, possible and probable (3P) reserves amounted to 1.886 billion barrels (299.9×106 m3).[2] Natural gas reserves are 95.5 billion cubic meters. In 2009, the field produced through 41 oil wells 1.181 million tons of oil, equal to 23,500 barrels per day (3,740 m3/d). The field is operated by Verkhnechonskneftegaz, a joint venture of TNK-BP (68.51%), Rosneft (25.94%), and East Siberian Gas Co. (5.48%).[1]
Produced oil is shipped by a 85-kilometre (53 mi) pipeline to Surgutneftegaz' Talakan field where it supplied to the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.[3]