DEVELOPMENT OF SUTORMIN OILFIELD, USSR

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• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01115R000100400003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 1, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

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Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C 20505
Directorate of Intelligence
January 1985
Development of Sutormin Oilfield, USSR
Summary
Sutormin Oilfield, one of the new generation of
oilfields in the West Siberian Basin, is in an early
stage of development. Seismic exploration occurred
there as early as 1973, and the initial discovery well
was drilled in 1976. Production drilling began in late
1982, and 204 production wells were drilled by January
1984. We estimate that only 165 of the production
wells were in operation at that time. (S
Sutormin has some of the largest well pads in the
Soviet Union, with as many as 88 production wells per
pad. Based on the number of existing well pads and
their associated reserve pits, we estimate that
Sutormin eventually will have at least 1,500 production
wells. (S
Information available as of November 1984 was used in this
report. (U)
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There is one gathering center, centrally located in the
oilfield, to initially process the crude oil produced.
The capacity of oil holding tanks under construction in
the gathering center suggests planned crude oil
production could eventually be about 756,000 barrels
per day. (S
The 1983 oil production at Sutormin did not meet Soviet
planning goals. Development had not progressed
sufficiently to support planned levels of production.
Although the Soviets are rapidly drilling new wells,
they are slow in bringing them on line. Because of
this slowness and the fact that they had not begun
using water injection as of March 1984, we believe they
are attempting to develop the field at a pace designed
to foster the recovery of a maximum amount of the
available oil rather than maximizing short-term
production. (S
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Introduction
The successful development and exploitation of new oil and gas
fields during the 1980s will be important to the Soviets, who
have acknowledged that they are experiencing serious production
problems. Production from new fields is needed to offset
declines at older fields, such as at the supergiant Samotlor.
One such new field, Sutormin, is located in the remote permafrost
region of the West Siberian Basin (figure 1). It is one of five
oil and gas, fields in the Noyabr'sk Oil and Gas Production
This report provides an analysis of Sutormin's development from
November 1973 to November 1984.
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Field Development
Sutormin is a moderate-size oilfield approximately 100 square
kilometers in area. Seismic exploration was observed there as
early as 1973, and two exploratory wells were drilled about three
years later. As of July 1982, we estimate that at least 30
delineation wells had been drilled at Sutormin to define the
limits of the oilfield. We cannot, however, determine the limits
I" E nce 1982 (SF.x11
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By July 1982 a hardsurface road and power transmission lines were
in place. The road and powerlines
run from the product'
,
association's regional gathering center to the oilfield. (S
1The other four fields are Karamov, Kholmogor, Muravlenko, and
Vyngapur. (TS
2A regional gathering center serves several oilfields as a main
collection and processing center for the crude produced at these
oilfields. (U)
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Figure 1
Location of Sutormin Oilfield, USSR
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Production at Sutormin probably began with a delineation well,
possibly during the latter part of 1982. Drilling of production
wells did not begin at Sutormin until late 1982. As of January
1984, 204 production wells had been drilled, but snow melt at
wellheads and on gathering line t only 165
production wells were producing. (S
Well pads are used at Sutormin as at other West Siberian oil-
fields. They consist of built-up layers of logs and gravel which
support the drilling and production equipment. The Soviets will
be able to save time and resources by using these giant well pads
because they minimize the surface area of the field, shortening
the total length of roads, electric powerlines, and pipelines.
Maintenance of the field and its facilities should be easier as
well. Because the larger pads will hold more wells, drill rigs
will not have to be disassembled as often for use at another
site, and well drilling and completion rates should be shorter.
(S 25X1
Reserve pits, which are shallow excavations surrounded by earthen
embankments to contain waste mud and other fluids produced in
drilling, are located adjacent to the well pads. Originally, the
largest well pad at Sutormin had 80 wells and 10 reserve pits
(figure 2). Accordingly, we estimated that there would be eight
wells for each pit of the same size at Sutormin. However, there
is now one pad at Sutormin with 11 such reserve pits, suggesting
the pad will probably contain 88 wells. In addition, some
reserve pits are twice as large in size, and we believe they will
serve 16 rather than eight wells. The smallest pad at Sutormin
has only four reserve nits, and it will likely have only 32
wells. (S
On the basis of the 24 well pads that were complete or were under
construction in January 1984 (figure 3) and the number and size
of reserve pits at each pad, we believe that at least 1,500
production wells will be drilled at Sutormin. We estimate that
all could be completed by 1989. This estimate is based on a
drilling average of 0.75 well per drill rig per month, which is
derived from data collected at other Soviet oilfields, and on our
assumption that the high number of drill rigs will remain
constant at Sutormin. Thirty-six drill rigs were present at the
beginning of 1984, which is a large number of rigs compared with
other Soviet oilfields we have studied. The high rig count
suggests that the Soviets are tryinq to complete drilling on the
pads as rapidly as possible. (S
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Recovery Methods
the
Soviets are probably using an
artificial lift recovery
method at Sutormin which
employs submersible, electric,
centrifugal pumps to lift oil
to the surface. Based on the
presence of surface equipment,
such as transformers that
serve the centrifugal pumps,
we estimate that about 75
wells were using submersible
pumps at the beginning of
1984. (S
Figure 3
Locations of Giant Well Pads, Sutormin Oilfield,
January 1984
Two other methods of
artificial lift that the
Soviets use--sucker rod pumps
and gas-lift--were not in use
at Sutormin as of January 63?40'
1984. However, we expect to
see sucker rod pumps installed
as the field ages and
reservoir pressures drop. We
doubt that gas-lift will ever 63?35'
be used at Sutormin. A
detailed reservoir analysis of
Sutormin
suggests that the field is
producing only a small amount
of cias and that the Soviets 63030'
Gatherin
g Center
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. ..
.
. .
. .
are flaring it. The only
other source of gas to use for
gas-lift is a pipeline,
located approximately 50
Sutormin, that comes from the
Urengoy Gasfield. Currently, there is no
connecting
from Sutormin Oilfield to this gas pipeline. (S
pipeline
Special intelligence indicates that 400,000 cubic meters of water
were to be injected at Sutormin in 1983. However, no water
injection facilities were in operation as of March 1984.
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In addition, small 25X1
buildings have been constructed on several well pads. These
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buildings could contain water injection metering equipment. The
Soviets probably are already drilling injection wells and
building the necessary surface facilities to prepare for a
subsequent water injection program. Because Sutormin is a
sandstone reservoir and natural water drives are common to these
reservoirs, the Soviets may be relying on this drive at the
present time for oil recovery. (TS
Production and Processing System
The oil production and processing system at Sutormin includes
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gathering system, a gathering center, and one pipeline. (S I 25X1
The gathering system consists of test separator equipment on the
well pads and the gathering lines. The crude oil flows from the
wells to a test separator on the pad, which measures the gas-oil
ratio in the crude. The crude then goes via gathering lines to
the gathering center (figure 4), where it is initially processed.
(S
There are three types of equipment for the initial processing of
crude oil at Sutormin. The equipment includes first- and second-
stage separators and crude oil holding tanks. The first- and
second-stage separators remove gas and water from the oil by
mechanical means; the holding tanks remove water by settling. By
November 1983, there were two first-stage separators and five
second-stage separators at the gathering center. The two first-
stage separators were stacked with two of the second-stage
separators. Only this group was operating. By July 1984 the
Soviets had installed eight cylindrical. tanks--possibly
separators or surge tanks for stabilizing pressure--and then
housed these tanks in a large building. By October 1984 a
battery of eight second-stage separators and a battery of three
first-stage separators had been added. (S
By March 1984, two of a battery of six crude oil holding tanks
were under construction. An additional battery of six crude oil
holding tanks has been under construction since August 1984.
Each of the crude oil holding tanks in both batteries has a
capacity of 63,000 barrels. Also by March 1984, three water
holding tanks were built for temporary st5rage of the water
produced during the demulsification process, but they probably
3During demulsification, residual water is removed from the oil
by physical means. In the holding tanks, gravity separation
allows most of the remaining water to settle out. (U)
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were not operating. They lacked the necessary electrical
conduits, pipes, and pressure release valves. A fourth water
holding tank has been under construction since June 1984 and by
October an additional two wereheaun_ F.arh of the tanks has a
capacity of 31,500 barrels. (S
Other small structures at the gathering center are of a modular
design. We believe they may house either generators, pumps, or
both. There is probably only one pipeline that carries crude
away from Sutormin to the regional gathering center. It was
under construction in September 1980 and completed by July
1982. (S
Production Levels
A Soviet publication reported that Sutormin's daily yield in 1982
was almost 1,000 metric tons (7,500 barrels). This was unlikely,
because the only well that was possibly producing in 1982 was a
delineation well, and 1,000 metric tons of oil a day would be
much more than could be expected from a well intended to define
the limits of an oil deposit. Moreover, the pipeline to the
regional gathering center was not completed until mid-1982. (S
Special intelligence indicated that the planned production for
1983 at Sutormin was 1,365,000 metric tons (10,237,500 barrels).
The Soviets probably did not meet this goal for two reasons:
Special intelligence reported that in June 1983 Sutormin
suffered serious production problems and that in July 1983 only
35,000 metric tons (262,500 barrels) were produced.
? Production drilling did not begin until late 1982, and only 165
wells were producing in January 1984.
Special intelligence also has reported that during the first
three months of 1984, the entire Noyabr'sk association fell short
of its production goals. (TS
Although Sutormin's initial productivity has been less than
expected, the Soviets are maintaining a high level of effort in
developing the oilfield. Once all the tanks in the gathering
center are completed, Sutormin's crude oil holding tank capacity
will be 756,000 barrels. An analysis of selected oilfields has
indicated that holding tank capacity at Soviet oilfields is
designed for one day's planned crude oil production. The initial
production shortfalls at Sutormin apparently have not deterred
the Soviets from expecting higher daily production in the
future. (TS
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The Soviets have often emphasized short-term production at the
expense of obtaining maximum recovery of oil from an oilfield.
In view of the recent Soviet acknowledgment of production
problems in West Siberia, however, this approach may be changing.
The Soviets appear to be developing Sutormin slowly and
cautiously. They are drilling quite rapidly, but are not
immediately putting every well into production once it is
drilled. As of March 1984, they had not yet begun injecting
water, which if done too soon or hastily can damage a reservoir
and decrease the maximum recovery. Although not all of the
facilities and equipment are operational, we have no reason to
believe that this is due to shortages of manpower or supplies;
the Soviets have maintained construction activity at the
gathering center, as well as at the various support areas located
throughout the oilfield. Consequently, Soviet efforts at
Sutormin may reflect a carefully planned program for development
of the oilfield, which could result in the maximum recovery of
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