Gazpromneft-Yamal, a Gazprom Neft subsidiary, is set to launch exploratory drilling operations at the Severo-Samburgskoye oilfield in the Pur District of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area this year, the corporate website reports. The oilfield's geological model estimates the volume of its crude oil reserves at about 72 million metric tons.

The licensed Severo-Samburgskoye oilfield is located 100 kilometers north of Novy Urengoi, and Gazprom Dobycha Urengoi, currently developing it, will transfer the hydrocarbon prospecting and production license to Gazprom Neft in 2017.

After completing these formalities, Gazpromneft-Yamal is to re-test two local oil wells and will also conduct 3D seismic tests to verify the oilfield's geological structure.