Verkhnechonsk field

The Verkhnechonskoye field is a giant oil field in Eastern Siberia, Russia. The field is located in Kataganskiy district, Irkutsk Oblast, about 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) north-east from Irkutsk. It is considered the largest oil field in Eastern Siberia.^[1]

Verkhnechonskoye field
Country	Russia
Region	Eastern Siberia
Location	Kataganskiy district, Irkutsk Oblast
Offshore/onshore	onshore
Operator	Verkhnechonskneftegaz
Partners	TNK-BP (68.51%) Rosneft (25.94%) East Siberian Gas Co. (5.48%)
Field history
Discovery	1978
Start of development	2002
Start of production	2008
Production
Current production of oil	23,500 barrels per day (~1.17×10^6 t/a)
Year of current production of oil	2009
Estimated oil in place	1,886 million barrels (~2.573×10^8 t)
Estimated gas in place	95.5×10^9 m3 (3.37×10^12 cu ft)
Producing formations	Precambrian formations

The field was discovered in 1978 and development started in 2002.^[2][3] Pilot operation of the field was started in 2005 and on 15 October 2008, first oil produced at the Verkhnechonskoye field was delivered.^[2][4] As of 2007, total proved reserves of Verkhnechonskoye were 409 million barrels (65.0×10^⁶ m³) of oil equivalent, and proved, possible and probable (3P) reserves amounted to 1.886 billion barrels (299.9×10^⁶ m³).^[2] Natural gas reserves are 95.5 billion cubic meters. In 2009, the field produced through 41 oil wells 1.181 million tons of oil, equal to 23,500 barrels per day (3,740 m³/d). The field is operated by Verkhnechonskneftegaz, a joint venture of TNK-BP (68.51%), Rosneft (25.94%), and East Siberian Gas Co. (5.48%).^[1]

Produced oil is shipped by an 85-kilometre (53 mi) pipeline to Surgutneftegaz' Talakan field where it supplied to the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.^[3]