SOVIETS CONFIRM BIG GAS FIELD IN KARA SEA

The Soviet Union has confirmed existence of a big gas/condensate discovery in the Kara Sea frontier, far north of the Arctic Circle. Located about 60 miles west of the Yamal Peninsula, the Leningradskaya structure was found during geophysical surveys conducted in the late 1980s (OGJ, Aug. 6, 1990, p. 28). But the U.S.S.R. provided only sketchy data regarding Leningradskaya until this year. Moscow now reports that Leningradskaya's discovery well tested numerous Cretaceous pay zones with gas

June 10, 1991

2 min read

The Soviet Union has confirmed existence of a big gas/condensate discovery in the Kara Sea frontier, far north of the Arctic Circle.

Located about 60 miles west of the Yamal Peninsula, the Leningradskaya structure was found during geophysical surveys conducted in the late 1980s (OGJ, Aug. 6, 1990, p. 28). But the U.S.S.R. provided only sketchy data regarding Leningradskaya until this year.

Moscow now reports that Leningradskaya's discovery well tested numerous Cretaceous pay zones with gas flows ranging to as much as 14 MMcfd. Producing intervals are at 6,217-7,615 ft.

As a confirmed discovery, Leningradskaya structure will in the future be designated Leningradskoye field.

The first Kara Sea field, Rusanovskoye, was discovered in 1989 less than 70 miles west of the Yamal Peninsula's northwest tip. Soviet sources said Rusanovskoye could hold reserves as large as 8 trillion cu m (282.4 tcf).

By comparison, the well publicized Shtokmanovskoye gas field in the Barents Sea, west of the Kara Sea, has reserves estimated last year at 4 trillion cu m (141.2 tcf).

Leningradskoye lies about 30 miles south of Rusanovskoye. Drilling is believed under way on a third large, promising structure, Zapadno-Sharapovskaya, about 80 miles south of Leningradskoye.

The U.S.S.R. has found at least nine other prime targets in the Kara Sea's southwest arm. Two giant-possibly supergiant-Yamal Peninsula fields have major extensions under the Kara Sea,

The low, marshy Yamal Peninsula holds about a dozen gas and gas/condensate fields.

None is on commercial production.