Prirazlomnoye field explained

Prirazlomnoye field
(Russian: Приразломное месторождение)
Location Map:Russia
Coordinates:69.2519°N 57.3428°W
Relief:yes
Country:Russia
Region:Pechora Sea
Offonshore:offshore
Operator:Sevmorneftegaz
Partner:Gazprom
Discovery:1989
Start Production:2013
Est Oil Bbl:610

Prirazlomnoye field is an Arctic offshore oilfield located in the Pechora Sea, south of Novaya Zemlya, Russia, the first commercial offshore oil development in the Russian Arctic sector. The field development is based on the single stationary Prirazlomnaya platform, which is the first Arctic-class ice-resistant oil platform in the world. Commercial drilling was planned to begin in early 2012,[1] however it was delayed at least until the Spring of 2013 due to protester's "safety concerns".[2] Safety concerns have been raised about Prirazlomnoye platform, citing use of decommissioned equipment (the 1984 TLP upper section of the rig), however Gazprom's oil spill response plan for Prirazlomnaya was renewed in 2014,[3] and most questions found their answers.[4] The Arctic Prirazlomnoye field produced the 10 millionth barrel of Russian North Arctic Oil in March 2016.[5]

History

The field was discovered in 1989. In 1993, the development license was issued to Rosshelf, a subsidiary of Gazprom, and the field was to be operational by 2001.[6] In June 2000, Gazprom and German energy company Wintershall signed a memorandum on cooperation in developing the Prirazlomnoye field.[7] Also Rosneft wanted to join the project.[8] In 2002, the license was transferred to Sevmorneftegaz, a joint venture of Gazprom and Rosneft.[9] Later Sevmorneftegaz became a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom. There is a plan to pass the Prirazlomnoye development to Gazprom Neft, an oil arm of Gazprom.[10] The name Prirazlomnoye means "at the geological fault".

Reserves

Prirazlomnoye field has reserves of 610Moilbbl.

Development

The field development concept is based on the single stationary Prirazlomnaya platform.[11] The oil platform, constructed by Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, was expected to be completed by 2011 and after that the drilling would start.[10] [12] The Prirazlomnaya platform was equipped with the topside of the decommissioned 1984 tension-leg platform (TLP) Conoco's Hutton field, which was the first ever built tension-leg platform.[13] [14] Produced oil will be transported by double acting shuttle oil tankers Mikhail Ulyanov and Kirill Lavrov, built in Admiralty Shipyard and operated by Sovcomflot, to Floating Storage and Offloading vessel Belokamenka, located in Kola Bay near Murmansk.[11] Gazprom considers to build an oil refinery in Teriberka at the location of the LNG plant of the Shtokman's development for processing oil from Prirazlomnoye and Dolginskoye fields.[15]

The concept of the development was designed by Vniigaz Institute, a subsidiary of Gazprom.[11] The estimated maximum annual oil production volume is expected to be 6.6 million tonnes. The total investment is expected to be about US$1.03 billion.[6]

The first oil from Prirazlomnaya

The construction of the Prirazlomnaya took almost a decade.[16] The platform installation was towed to the Pechora Sea in August 2011, however it took 2.5 years before the production started in December 2013.[17] In 2014, Gazprom expects to deliver at least 300,000 tonnes of Arctic crude (ARCO).[17] [18]

Environmental issues

See also: Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise ship case.

According to study of possible Arctic oil spill scenarios from the oil platform Prirazlomnaya completed by Russian scientists, together with environmentalists from Greenpeace and WWF-Russia Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund Gazprom is not prepared to deal adequately with a spill associated with oil production. The Russian Ministry of Emergency confirmed that Gazprom's oil spill response plan expired in July 2012, making any drilling the company undertakes in the Arctic illegal until a new one is submitted and approved.[19] [20] On 24 August 2012, a group of Greenpeace activists under Kumi Naidoo scaled the platform and put up a banner "Don't kill the Arctic".[21] [22]

On 18 September 2013, Greenpeace's ship Arctic Sunrise circled the Prirazlomnaya oil rig while three crew attempted to board the platform. In response, the Russian Coast Guard seized control of the ship and detained the activists.[23] [24] [25] The ship was subsequently towed by a coastguard vessel to the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. The crew consisted of thirty members from sixteen different nationalities. The Russian government has intended to charge the Greenpeace activists with piracy, which carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years of imprisonment. It was the stiffest response that Greenpeace has encountered from a government since the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in 1985, said Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace USA.[26] The Netherlands launched legal action to free 30 Greenpeace activists charged in Russia with piracy. Arctic Sunrise is a Dutch-flagged ship. Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said the Netherlands had applied to the UN's Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which resolves maritime disputes between states. The Netherlands view the ship's detention as unlawful.[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Sevmash. http://www.sevmash.ru/rus/news/601-lr-.html. ru:"Приразломная" отправилась на работу в Печорское море. Prirazlomnaya moves to the Pechora Sea. Russian. 2011-08-19. 2012-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930234157/http://www.sevmash.ru/rus/news/601-lr-.html. 30 September 2011. bot: unknown.
  2. Web site: http://www.gazeta.ru/business/2012/09/21/4782709.shtml. ru:Облом с Приразломным. Russian. Газета.ru. 2012-09-21. 2013-02-20. Алексей Топалов.. https://web.archive.org/web/20121125085909/http://www.gazeta.ru/business/2012/09/21/4782709.shtml. live. 2012-11-25.
  3. Web site: Gazprom's oil spill response plan . 26 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019203801/http://shelf-neft.gazprom.ru/d/textpage/4f/79/referat-po-planu-lrn-2013.pdf . 19 October 2016 . dead.
  4. News: BarentsObserver. Prirazlomnoye communications installed. 25 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916162806/http://barentsobserver.com/en/topics/satellite-communication-installed-prirazlomnaya. 16 September 2014. live.
  5. News: United Press International. 10th million barrel of arctic oil produced in Prirazlomnoye. 22 March 2016. 22 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160323091855/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Industry/2016/03/22/Russia-pulls-10-millionth-barrel-of-oil-from-Arctic-north/6411458640056/. 23 March 2016. live.
  6. News: . Gazprom ups pipeline costs, delays oil project . Dmitry . Zhdannikov . 2008-03-31 . 2009-10-09.
  7. News: M2 Presswire . German-Russian Memorandum signed; Wintershall and Gazprom successful in realising their Prirazlomnoye project . 2000-06-20 . 2009-10-09.
  8. News: FSU Energy . Rosneft wants a piece of Prirazlomnoye . 2001-02-09 . 2009-10-09.
  9. News: Energy News . Ministry grants Sevmorneftegaz Shtokmanov, Prirazlomnoye licenses . 2002-11-28 . 2009-10-09.
  10. News: RosBusinessConsulting . Foreign companies may develop Barents Sea oilfield . 2008-12-09 . 2009-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605034252/http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20081209105203.shtml . 5 June 2011 . live.
  11. Web site: offshore-technology.com . Prirazlomnoye Oilfield - Barents Sea, Russia . 2009-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091008102005/http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/Prirazlomnoye/ . 8 October 2009 . live.
  12. News: The St. Petersburg Times. Putin Slams Miller Over Access To Pipeline . Anatoly Medetsky . 2008-07-15 . 2009-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605081629/http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=26544 . 5 June 2011 . live.
  13. News: Barents Observer . Platform hull from Murmansk to Mexico . 2008-11-27 . 2009-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131110215255/http://barentsobserver.com/en/node/20723 . 10 November 2013 . live.
  14. Web site: The United Kingdom Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Association . Case Studies . 2009-10-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090712134044/http://www.oilandgas.org.uk/issues/decommissioning/case-studies.cfm . 12 July 2009.
  15. News: Barents Observer . Gazprom considers oil refinery in Shtokman village . 2009-02-06 . 2009-10-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090209141832/http://barentsobserver.com/gazprom-considers-oil-refinery-in-shtokman-village.4555371-116320.html . 9 February 2009.
  16. News: Barents Observer . Delayed Arctic breakthrough . 2014-01-02 . 2015-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925103133/http://barentsobserver.com/en/energy/2014/01/delayed-arctic-breakthrough-02-01 . 25 September 2015 . live.
  17. News: Barents Observer . First oil from Prirazlomnaya . 2014-04-08 . 2015-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925111838/http://barentsobserver.com/en/energy/2014/04/first-oil-prirazlomnaya-08-04 . 25 September 2015 . live.
  18. News: Bellona . Russia opens oil sluices in Arctic as rickety Prirazlomnaya platform begins production . 2014-04-23 . 23 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925112249/http://bellona.org/news/fossil-fuels/oil/2014-04-russia-opens-oil-sluices-arctic-rickety-prirazlomnaya-platform-begins-production . 25 September 2015 . live.
  19. News: Prirazlomnaya oil spill would threaten Russian Arctic with irreparable disaster: study . 15 August 2012 . Greenpeace Russia . 14 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120826232708/http://www.greenpeace.org/russia/en/news/Prirazlomnaya-oil-spill-would-threaten-Russian-Arctic-with-irreparable-disaster-study-/ . 26 August 2012 . live.
  20. News: Environmentalists warn of risk of oil production in the Russian Arctic . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903132502/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/environmentalists-warn-of-risk-of-oil-production-in-the-russian-arctic/2012/08/14/a1299f8e-e601-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html . dead . 3 September 2019 . 15 August 2012 . . 14 August 2012 . Associated Press .
  21. News: . Greenpeace activists climb Russian Arctic oil platform . Gabriela . Baczynska . 2012-08-24 . 2012-08-24.
  22. News: . Greenpeace Activists Storm Russia's Prirazlomnaya Oil Platform . Natalya . Vasilyeva . . 2012-08-24 . 2012-08-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120825234958/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/greenpeace-russia-prirazlomnaya_n_1826845.html . 25 August 2012 . live.
  23. News: Shaun Walker . Russia to charge Greenpeace activists with piracy over oil rig protest . The Guardian. 24 September 2013 . 2013-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130925094228/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/24/russia-greenpeace-piracy-oil-rig-protest . 25 September 2013 . live.
  24. Web site: Greenpeace International responds to allegations from Russian authorities . Greenpeace International . 22 September 2013 . 2013-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927090305/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Greenpeace-responds-to-allegations-by-Russian-authorities/ . 27 September 2013 . live.
  25. News: Armed Russian guards storm Greenpeace vessel in Arctic. Channel NewsAsia. 25 September 2013. 2013-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927205502/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/armed-russian-guards/819658.html. 27 September 2013. live.
  26. News: Kathy Lally and Will Englund . U.S. Greenpeace captain jailed in Russia . The Washington Post . 2 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131001022543/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/us-greenpeace-captain-jailed-in-russia/2013/09/27/5e4f6968-2788-11e3-9372-92606241ae9c_story.html . 1 October 2013 . live.
  27. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24395769 Dutch take legal action over Greenpeace ship in Russia

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Prirazlomnoye field".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.