Gazprom Neft and Repsol are developing a joint venture to conduct geological exploration at six license blocks in the Karabashsky zone of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

The joint venture will be established through Karabashsky-6 LLC, owned by Gazprom Neft, which holds geological prospecting licenses to six blocks in the south—west of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Repsol will acquire a 50.1-percent share in the company’s equity once both parties have fulfilled all conditions precedent under the contract, including securing corporate approvals. Under the terms of the Shareholders Agreement the joint venture will be managed by both parties, on an equal footing.

The joint venture will hold the rights to the Karabashsky-17, −18, −19, −25, −26 and −27 blocks, together covering a total area of approximately 1,600 square kilometres. All of these are located in the Kondinsky District of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and all are marked by very limited levels of geological investigation. Promising assets adjoin these sites, licenses for which are held by other Gazprom Neft and Repsol joint ventures: Evrotek-Yugra* and ASB Geo**. Synergies with new territories will allow the partners to establish a major exploration — and subsequently oil-production — cluster in the Karabashsky zone of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Preparations for geological prospecting at six Karabashsky blocks were started in 2019, with 2D seismic works planned for 2020. The operator on this project is Evrotek-Yugra, which has a professional team with extensive skills and experience in geological prospecting works within the Karabashsky zone.

Vadim Yakovlev, Deputy CEO for Upstream, Gazprom Neft, commented: «Establishing this joint venture marks a step forward not just in developing a major exploration cluster in the south—west of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, but also in supporting the vector of our expanding cooperation with Repsol. We already have mutually successful projects in geological prospecting in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. I am confident that in joining forces and consolidating our skills and competencies on yet another asset we can unlock the resource potential of the under-researched Karabashsky zone more effectively. Our experience of working with our Spanish partners will prove a further advantage in implementing other promising projects».

Tomas Garcia Blanco, Repsol’s Upstream Executive Managing Director, said, «We have established a solid relationship with Gazprom Neft in the projects we have undertaken together, and this new joint venture is the result of seeking new opportunities in the Karabashsky area. We believe that our joint effort and technical expertise will result in efficient solutions to develop these assets and create value for our stakeholders».

Notes:

1- Gazprom Neft acquired a 15.02-percent interest in Evrotek-Yugra, owned by Spain’s Repsol, in July 2017, with the right to increase its interest to 50-percent. The joint venture is undertaking geological prospecting works in the south-west of the Khanti-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Evrotek-Yugra holds hydrocarbon exploration and production licenses for the Karabashsky 1 and Karabashsky 2 blocks, as well as exploration licenses for a further five blocks including the Karabashsky 3, the Karabashsky 9, the Kileisky and the Sverdlovsky-4 blocks.

2- ASB Geo LLC is a Gazprom Neft—Repsol joint venture holding the exploration license for the Karabashsky 10 block in the Kondinsky District in the south-western part of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Repsol is one of the world’s leading oil and gas companies, operating in more than 35 countries, with a headcount of more than 25,000. The company’s products are sold worldwide. Repsol produces over 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent, and processes more than one million barrels of oil, every day.

About Gazprom Neft

Gazprom Neft is a vertically integrated oil company, primarily involved in oil and gas exploration and production, refining, and the production and sale of oil products. The Gazprom Neft’s corporate structure comprises more than 70 production, refining and sales subsidiaries throughout Russia, the CIS, and abroad.
The company’s proved and probable reserves (SPE-PRMS) are estimated at 2.78 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (btoe), making Gazprom Neft one of the top-20 largest oil and gas companies in the world, and one of Russia’s top three largest companies in terms of production and refining volumes. Total production in 2017 reached 89.75 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe), with refining volumes of 40.1 million tonnes.
Gazprom Neft products are exported to more than 50 countries worldwide, and sold throughout the Russian Federation and abroad. The company’s filling station network totals more than 1,850 outlets throughout Russia, the CIS and Europe.

About Repsol

Repsol is a global energy company present throughout the whole energy value chain. The company has upstream activity in 25 countries, produces 715,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and has one of the most efficient refining systems in Europe. Repsol also operates low-emissions electricity generation assets, including photovoltaic and offshore wind power projects, and it is pioneering development of mobility initiatives to build new solutions and provide enhanced energy sources for transportation. Repsol is present in the United States since 2006. As of December 31, 2018, the company had 559 employees working in the country, owned mineral rights to a total net surface area of 3,111 Km2 and accounted for a net production of 113,539 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Net proved reserves in the United States amounted to 419.2 million barrels of oil equivalent.