Novatek spuds first well at North-Obskiy license area, in Ob Bay

MOSCOW -- PAO NOVATEK announced that its subsidiary OOO Arctic LNG 3 commenced drilling of the first well at the North-Obskiy license area, in the shallow waters of the Ob Bay. The initial well is drilled using a jackup floating drilling rig, Amazon, leased from Gazprom flot. The drilling process is based on zero discharge principle, whereby all of the waste products are collected and transported 125 km to Sabetta onshore base.

"We commenced drilling our first well at the North-Obskiy license area characterized with significant geological potential and favorable location in terms of logistics,” – according to Leonid Mikhelson, Chairman of Novatek’s management board. “The license area is in close proximity to the exit from the Ob Bay in its Northern part, which provides the convenient passage of vessels and requires no approach channel. Arctic LNG 3 potentially represents the next stage in implementing Novatek’s development strategy to increase LNG production in the Russian Arctic region.”