TYUMEN OIL OPERATIONS IN TROUBLE

The Russian government owes more than 7 billion rubles (about $17 million) to geologists in western Siberia's Tyumen province, most of whom explore for oil and gas. The Moscow newspaper Trud said directors of the Tyumengeologiya enterprise held a press conference at which they said the geologists haven't been paid since September and drilling rigs are idle. Personnel in 50 worker settlements belonging to Tyumengeologiya are stuck in remote areas without work and don't have the

Jan. 19, 1993

The Russian government owes more than 7 billion rubles (about $17 million) to geologists in western Siberia's Tyumen province, most of whom explore for oil and gas.

The Moscow newspaper Trud said directors of the Tyumengeologiya enterprise held a press conference at which they said the geologists haven't been paid since September and drilling rigs are idle. Personnel in 50 worker settlements belonging to Tyumengeologiya are stuck in remote areas without work and don't have the money to leave.

"The situation is fraught with the most serious consequences for the entire Russian economic," Trud declared. It said potential production from undeveloped Tyumen fields is large enough to maintain the province's oil flow for only 5-6 years, while fields now on production will be depleted in about 30 years.

"Tyumen oil production has fallen to a critically low level," Trud warned. "Stoppage of exploration indicates we have lost hope for stabilizing the oil and gas complex.