September 4, 1998. - Festivities on the 20th anniversary of the commercial development of Pokachevskoye and Povkhovkoye oilfields were held yesterday in Kogalym, Western Siberia, where LUKOIL-Western Siberia has its headquarters.

Energetic prospecting and development of new oilfields began in 1978 after the commissioning of the first wells. The first million tonnes of crude was extracted in a year. The construction of the first district of a new town, Kogalym, started in 1980.

The development of new oilfields proceeded fast. The commercial development of Yuzhno-Yagunskoye oilfield began in 1982 and Vatyeganskoye at the end of 1983.

The maximum production volume of 14.3 million tonnes was achieved at Pokachayevskoye in 1987. In 1993 it produced the 150-millionth tonne of crude.

Severno-Kochevskoye oilfield was opened for commercial development in 1996. In September 1997 the Kogalym oil refinery as well as a chemical reagent plant were opened. A unique core samples storage facility and laboratory section were commissioned.

As the industrial potential grew rapidly, so did the construction of the town of Kogalym. Now it has a population of over 60,000. It has nine secondary schools, an indoor stadium, an art school, a four-star hotel and other urban infrastructure facilities, a Russian Orthodox Church and a mosque. There are direct flights to Moscow and Kogalym has a world standard airport.

The festivities in Kogalym were attended by LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov. He congratulated oil workers on the important anniversary and stressed that the history of the company, its powerful production, financial and intellectual potential are inseparable from West Siberian oilfields where LUKOIL extracts over 70% of its oil.

 

 

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