Samotlorneftegaz, which is a part of Rosneft’s oil production complex, allocated over 6.7 billion rubles in 2022 for environmental protection and environmental remediation measures.

Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture of Rosneft. The company aims to minimize its environmental impact and achieve a leading position in the field of environmentally friendly production.

Samotlorneftegaz’s environmental projects are focused on increasing the efficient use of associated petroleum gas, monitoring methane emissions, improving pipeline reliability, reclamation of sites of historical heritage, safe disposal of industrial waste, supporting the biological diversity of Siberian rivers and landscaping.

The implementation of a comprehensive programme on gas infrastructure development has resulted in the rate of rational utilisation of associated petroleum gas at 99%, one of the best levels in the industry. The bulk of the feedstock goes to gas processing plants, and the network of local consumers has been expanded.

In parallel with improving the APG utilisation rate, best practices in methane monitoring are being implemented. In 2022, ground inspections of technological facilities using infrared cameras, a laser scanner, and an ultrasonic detector included 3,300 measurements, which is 4.7 times more than in 2021. Unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with a laser gas analyser have monitored 32 production sites and around 500 km of gas pipelines.

Samotlorneftegaz has commissioned more than 240 kilometres of linear oilfield pipelines under the Pipeline Reliability Improvement Programme. The use of modern, domestically produced materials has increased the structural strength of the new networks.

To date, the company has restored the biological productivity of 90% of the «historical heritage» lands disturbed during the Soviet years of Samotlor field development. In 2022, ecologists restored the natural soil balance on 126 hectares of this category. The technical and biological phases of reclamation are carried out year-round through extensive use of winter reclamation and phytoreclamation techniques. Samotlorneftegaz conducts most of its operations using its own ecoservice, with unique specialised equipment for working in boggy areas. 

Another important area of Samotlorneftegaz work is to maintain the natural balance in the area where it operates by replenishing natural resources. The company is actively involved in implementing the regional program «Conservation of the Siberian sturgeon» within the framework of the national project «Ecology». Last year, the company released about 1.3 million juvenile Siberian sturgeon and muksun into Western Siberian reservoirs. In just the past five years, the stocking of northern rivers has added more than 11 million fry of valuable fish species.

The number of conifers planted by the company over the last 15 years on the territory of Ugra forestries exceeds 1.7 million, and the area covered by them is 450 hectares. In 2022, as part of an agreement on social and economic partnership between Rosneft and the Yugra government, the company’s employees planted over 4,000 seedlings of larch, spruce and fir trees in the park zones of Nizhnevartovsk. These tree species form the basis of Western Siberia’s green fund.

In 2022, Samotlorneftegaz has for the third time received high praise from experts of the All-Russian Environmental Protection Leader Russia 2022 competition. The enterprise was awarded a diploma in the category «Best Environmentally Responsible Company in Oil and Gas Production». Samotlorneftegaz also received a letter of appreciation from the deputy governor of Yugra for its successful implementation of the environmental policy and support of the «Save and Conserve» socially significant project.

Rosneft
Information Division
July 7, 2023

Keywords: Environmental news 2023