PROTECTION AND RATIONAL USE OF WATER RESOURCES

Wastewater recycling allows the Company to maintain low specific water consumption — less than 1.8 cubic meters of water per tonne of produced hydrocarbons.

In the reporting year, the environmental impact is described as acceptable — the environmental components are monitored at all license blocks of the Company. “Surgutneftegas” PJSC performs surface and ground water abstraction in strict compliance with the project and regulatory documents. Fresh groundwater reserves were evaluated at all water intake points with production rate over 100 cubic meters per day.

There are sanitary protection zones developed for household and drinking water intake points, their projects have obtained a sanitary and epidemiological approval.

To maintain reservoir pressure and save fresh water, the Company is gradually switching to the use of underground saline water. The Company recycles treated wastewater as injectant in the reservoir pressure maintenance system. In 2022, about 399.5 million cubic meters of wastewater and produced water was injected. Total volume of treated household wastewater injected to maintain reservoir pressure was 6.1 million cubic meters, including 4.04 million cubic meters in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Effluents from “Surgutneftegas” PJSC facilities located in the Yakut village of Vitim are cleaned to the required standard at biological treatment facilities, and further streamed to the Romanovsky Klyuch brook.

In order to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the environment, “Surgutneftegas” PJSC successfully implements a comprehensive program for increasing the operational reliability of the oil production facilities. In particular, initial water separation units based on three-phase separators are being constructed. These units are usually mounted at booster pump stations and are designed to separate the water-oil emulsion and bring the water to the requirements of the relevant standards. Initial water separation units enable to efficiently separate produced formation water for its further use in the reservoir pressure maintenance system. It thereby reduces the corrosion of pipelines, significantly cuts down accident risks and possibility of pollution of gathering grounds and water bodies with the oil emulsion and highly saline formation water.

“Surgutneftegas” PJSC reconstructs oilfield infrastructure in accordance with the requirements of environmental legislation: in 2022, drain tanks were installed at 24 well pads, ramps were reconstructed at 44 well pads. In the reporting year, the Company invested more than RUB 759 million in construction of water protection facilities; in 2023, the amount of investments is expected to be RUB 1074 million.