Geological Exploration and Development
NOVATEK takes a systematic and comprehensive approach to developing hydrocarbon resources, from selecting seismic survey and well test methods to generating rationales for the most appropriate field development system and actioning them. To achieve better efficiency of its exploration activities, the Company applies state-of-the-art technology and leverages the experience and expertise of its geological teams. We employ modern techniques for drilling and completion, geophysical logging as well as data processing and interpretation from as early as the prospecting stage.
A significant portion of NOVATEK’s reserves and resources is associated with deep-lying tight reservoirs. The complex structure requires new approaches to exploring and maturing the reserves. Throughout 2025, we continued exploration activities to mature prospects, most of which are associated with the Achimov and Jurassic formations and therefore characterized by greater depths (3,500-4,000 m), high-pressure and high-temperature environments, and challenging rock properties.
In 2025, our exploration campaign on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas resulted in a significant addition of Jurassic gas and condensate reserves for the South-Tambeyskoye field, while new reserves were discovered within the Jurassic formations in the Gydanskoye field and their commercial viability was confirmed. A prospecting well in the Gydanskoye field was tested at a gas flow rate of 827 thousand cubic meters per day. Within the North-Yarudeyskiy license area, the new Vasily Podshibyakin oil field was discovered with in-place reserves of 15.8 million tons. In the Payutskiy license area, 3D seismic surveys were conducted across 1,900 square km, confirming its high potential.
In order to maintain pipeline gas production levels and the volumes sent to the Purovsky Plant, we continued geological exploration activities and production drilling at the Nadym-Pur-Taz region’s fields and license areas, inter alia exploration drilling for Achimov prospects progressed in the South-Yamburgskiy license area.
Production logs are further acquired from wells targeting Cretaceous deposits, including the Achimov complex. Within the Samburgskiy license area, high levels of productivity were confirmed for the Urengoyskoye field’s new Achimov formations and the potential for developing reservoir margins of the Neocomian formations of the East-Urengoyskoye+North-Yesetinskoye, Yevo-Yakhinskoye, and East-Tarkosalinskoye fields was upwardly revised. New Apt-Albian and Valanginian targets were confirmed within the North-Chaselskoye field.