All-Russia hard-to-recover oil fields to be established in Tatarstan

On May 16, at Tatarstan Government House, Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergey Donskoi. “We discussed issues related to competences of the federal agency, and could find the understanding and support on them," Minnikhanov commented on the meeting outcome. Following the meeting, Donskoi and Minnikhanov signed an agreement between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan on the establishment of fields for the development and introduction of new technologies to search, explore, and develop hard-to-recover reserves, hydrocarbon resources.

According to the agreements, joint efforts will be made to build two test fields in Tatarstan: for the Domanik productive deposits (the Domanik light tight oil field) and super-viscous oil and natural bitumen deposits of the Perm complex (the Bitum field). The document envisages carrying out research, development, experimental and methodological works, their implementation in Tatarstan at the expense of federal and regional budgets, funds of subsoil users and other investors. It also stipulates the development of a set of measures, including state support in the field of geological exploration, contributing to the acceleration of growth in the resource base and production growth of hard-to-recover oil in the Volga-Ural oil and gas area. The technology developed within the framework of the agreement is expected to spread to other oil and gas regions of Russia. Scientific and technical exchanges, as well as poviding favorable investment environment for the activity are among the forms of cooperation.

Speaking about the importance of the agreement for Tatarstan, Minnikhanov noted the Tatneft oil company produces 45 per cent of oil with the help of new technologies. The Tatneft has experience in the development of natural bitumen with production volume expected to reach 2 million tonnes in 2017, he said. According to Interim President the agreement will contribute to more effective decision-making and work.