Gazprom Neft announced the discovery of the field on February 11, stating that it holds 55 million tons of oil reserves. The company provided details about the find.
The deposit is located within the Southern Novy Port and Saletinsky blocks, which are part of the company's cluster in the region, including the "Gates of the Arctic" terminal in the Gulf of Ob.
As noted by the company, this is the largest oil field discovered in Yamal in the past 30 years. The discovery followed a three-year cycle of geological exploration, which included seismic studies and the development of geological and hydrodynamic models. Monitoring of drilling was conducted remotely from a control center in Tyumen. Gazprom Neft plans to conduct further exploration in the near future to clarify the production potential. The company did not respond to additional inquiries.
According to Dmitry Kasatkin, managing partner at Kasatkin Consulting, further exploration of the project could take two to three years and require around 10-30 billion rubles. Investments for the construction of infrastructure and drilling the operational fund could amount to hundreds of billions of rubles, he added. Mr. Kasatkin also noted that within the cluster, capital expenditures can be optimized through the use of the Novy Port field and the "Gates of the Arctic" terminal.
Oleg Ablev, head of the analytical department at Rikom-Trast, believes that the project will reach production plateau in five to six years, with peak output anticipated after 2030. According to him, the optimal production level for the Arctic infrastructure is 3-3.5 million tons of oil per year. Increasing volumes to 5 million tons is technically possible, the analyst notes, but would require more intensive drilling and a significant increase in capital expenditures. He added that a stable production level could be sustained for 10-12 years.
The characteristics of the site suggest it falls under the category of oil and gas condensate fields, and the raw material base is likely comprised of low-sulfur oil, gas, and condensate, according to Dmitry Kasatkin.
The raw materials produced could be integrated into the Arctic grade Novy Port, which is in demand in export markets and as feedstock for deep processing.
At the same time, the analyst continues, the presence of gas and condensate will require Gazprom Neft to establish a comprehensive system for collection and processing, as well as effective flaring schemes for associated petroleum gas.
The strategic advantage of the new field is the increased share of low-sulfur oil grades, notes Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market. He explains that demand for such raw materials remains steady due to tightening standards for marine and aviation fuels. According to Mr. Tereshkin, Arctic oil will be in demand in regions with strong processing infrastructure, including China, India, and the Middle East.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, in 2025, 31 oil fields were discovered in Russia, with oil and condensate reserves increasing by 640 million tons.
The largest hydrocarbon fields were discovered in Yamal and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The discovery by Gazprom Neft does not change the balance of the Russian market but confirms that Yamal can gradually replace Western Siberia, points out Oleg Ablev. Dmitry Kasatkin notes that the field provides Gazprom Neft with a long-term foundation for the development of its Arctic cluster. He adds that the operation of the project will help mitigate the risks of declining production at mature fields in traditional hydrocarbon provinces.
Source: Kommersant
