Nearly 3 MMbbl of Arctic oil delivered to Europe, Gazprom Neft says

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- The Kirill Lavrov tanker has delivered a new batch of ARCO Arctic oil to Europe in its sixth shipment of oil, Gazprom Neft announced Friday. More than 2.9 MMbbl of oil have been extracted from Prirazlomnoye oil field since production began.

The Kirill Lavrov and Mikhail Ulyanov Arc6 class double-hulled icebreaking oil tankers are certified to safely export crude oil from Prirazlomnoye field. Both vessels, specifically designed for year-round oil transportation in arctic conditions from the Prirazlomnaya platform, were built in the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

All vessels at the field are double acting, able to move through ice stern-first, improving mobility and safety of passage in adverse arctic conditions. In addition to the ice-class tankers, the Prirazlomnoye transport system also includes two multifunctional icebreakers. This ensures uninterrupted supply and operation at the platform.

“We first extracted oil from the Prirazlomnoye platform less than 18 months ago. In this short period of time we have begun industrial scale production of crude oil and send regular shipments of oil to our customers. As we continue to increase production we remain committed to ensuring environmental and industrial safety in all operations at the Prirazlomnoye field,” said Gennady Lyubin, CEO of Gazprom Neft Shelf.

Prirazlomnoye field is located in the Pechora Sea, 60 km from the coast. Prirazlomnoye is the first, and as yet, only, oil producing field on the Russian arctic shelf. It is also the only project producing oil from a stationary platform in the Arctic.

Pilot production began at the oil field in December 2013. The new ARCO oil was first delivered to the global market in April 2014.