Total crude oil production by LUKOIL Group in 2009 (including
share of production by equity affiliates) was 97.615 million tonnes (1.972
million barrels per day). Average daily output was 2.7% higher than in
2008.
Growth of output was due mainly to operations at the Yuzhnaya
Khylchuya field, which was commissioned in mid-2008 and also to international
projects. Lower production at fields in Western
Siberia had negative impact on the output trend and was due
primarily to objective changes in the structure of recoverable reserves. The
Company intends to reduce negative impact of these factors on production in
Western Siberia by use of the latest enhanced
recovery technologies. Meanwhile, LUKOIL has successfully addressed the problem
of electricity supply shortages in Western
Siberia. The Company is steadily building and commissioning its own
power generating capacities at fields, and electricity supply shortages have now
been almost completely overcome.
Russia
Oil production by LUKOIL in Russia during
2009 was 91.868 million tonnes, of which 91.560 million tonnes were produced by
Group subsidiaries. Production in Russia rose by 2.1% compared with
2008.
Subsidiaries and equity affiliates of LUKOIL produced
hydrocarbons at 348 fields in Russia in 2009. Production drilling
was 2,385 thousand meters, which is 20% less than in 2008. The number of
production wells at the end of 2009 was 28,240, of which 24,040 were actually in
use. There were 854 new wells brought into operation in
2009.
International Projects
LUKOIL’s share of production in international projects was 5.747
million tonnes, which is 8.5% more than in 2008. The growth was mainly due to
the Tengiz, KarakudukMunai and Karachaganak projects in Kazakhstan.
Production drilling in the Company’s international projects was
355,000
meters, which is 40% less than in 2008. The reduction is explained by lower levels of financing for
drilling programs, but rates of progress were maintained in priority development
projects (Karachaganak, Kumkol and Condor). The number of oil production wells
was 1,522, of which 1,345 were actually in use. A total of 270 new production
wells were commissioned as part of international projects, in which the Company
is a participant. Average daily oil flow from these wells was 43.4
tonnes.
The West Qurna-2 Project in Iraq
In 2009
a Consortium of LUKOIL and the Norwegian company Statoil
won a tendering competition for rights to develop the West Qurna-2 field. The
field is one of the largest in the world, which are not currently being
developed, and is located in the southern Iraq, 65 km north-west of the large port city
of Basrah.
Recoverable reserves at the field are close to 13 billion barrels. The main productive horizons are Mishrif,
Yamamah, Hasib, Maudud, and Zubair. More than 90% of reserves are concentrated
in Mishrif and Yamamah reservoirs. The field was discovered in 1973. Geological
exploration (2D seismic and drilling of exploration wells) was carried out by Soviet
geologists and service organizations.