On the eve of the flood in the Orenburg region, Gazprom stopped the operation of more than 20 production wells, reports the corporate publication of Gazprom Dobycha Orenburg LLC. Gas workers call the flood situation this year unusual, but controllable.“In the floodplain zone of the Urals there are wells of complex gas treatment units No. 12, 14 and 15. More than two dozen wells were stopped before the arrival of high water,” reports the Orenburg Gas newspaper.General Director of Gazprom Dobycha Orenburg Oleg Nikolaev, managers and specialists of the gas production department and the department for the operation of connecting product pipelines made a helicopter flight over hydrocarbon production and transportation facilities. The Gazprom Avia board was moving along a route that covers production facilities that require priority attention during the spring flood period.“From a bird’s eye view, it is clear that 85% of gas wells have access to watercraft and all-terrain vehicles. Control can be carried out manually, as well as using safety automation, which is installed on sites inaccessible to water. All wells in the floodplain zone are protected by a four-level security system. No destruction or gas, oil and water leaks were detected,” the newspaper reported, which was published on April 17.“We monitor the performance of each well. We constantly monitor tightness. In accordance with the project for the development of wells located in the floodplain zone, their operation is provided for in such conditions. As part of the measures to prepare for the flood, together with specialists from the Orenburg branch of Gazprom Gazobezopasnost LLC, a planned set of works for the safe operation of wells. After the flood, a large-scale audit is required,” commented Alexander Grebennikov, deputy production and dispatch service of the gas production department of LLC.The specialist recalls that a similar situation occurred in the company’s field area 30 years ago:“In 1994, when I worked as an oil and gas production operator, there was a similar situation. The equipment will still operate reliably and airtightly. In addition to wells, we monitor fields and access roads. During the flight, they inspected all air crossings in the area of the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field and the Western pipeline corridor. UESP representatives made sure that ice drift and foreign objects did not damage the supporting structures and pipelines, and the integrity of the supports of the air crossings was preserved. There were no sediments or accumulations of branches near the supports that created a blockage. and prevented the passage of water.”“The situation is unusual, but controllable. We have made all the necessary shutdowns. We have revised the operational response plan. In the event of an emergency situation, we are ready to take action. We have switched to high alert mode for the objects being inspected,” added Andrei Bauer, head of the department for the operation of connecting product pipelines.The Orenburg region has faced the worst flood in recent decades; a regional emergency regime has been in effect in the region since April 4. On April 7, the government commission decided to classify the flood in the Orenburg region as a federal emergency. The most difficult situation arose in Orsk, where a dam broke on April 5, and also in Orenburg.Source