In late April 2019, Rosneft transferred two long-term licenses in Yakutia (Sakha) Republic (Eastern Siberia) to its joint venture with BP. Yermak Neftegaz (Rosneft 51% and BP with 49%) will operate the Sredne-Lenskiy and Olekminskiy blocks via its subsidiary Srednelenskoye. It marks the expansion of Yermakâs E&P activities outside its current presence in the Yenisey-Khatanga Basin and the Nadym-Taz Province (Western Siberia). Rosneft won the licenses at an auction on 1 December 2015.  The Olekminskiy block covers 6,121 sq km in the Predpatom Basin. Seismic coverage amounts to 145 km. No wells have been drilled in the area. Hydrocarbon resources (category D2) of the block are estimated at 90 MMbbl of oil and 1,360 Bcf of gas. Exploration of the block must be completed within seven years. The starting price amounted to RUB 12 million (USD 0.18 million). Rosneft offered RUB 700.8 million (USD 10.8 million).  The Sredne-Lenskiy block covers 9,834 sq km in the Predpatom Basin. Seismic coverage amounts to 722 km. Three wells have been drilled in the area. Hydrocarbon resources (categories D1+D2) of the block are estimated at 42 MMbbl of oil and 483 Bcf of gas. Exploration of the block must be completed within seven years. The starting price amounted to RUB 5.4 million (USD 0.08 million). Rosneft offered RUB 302.94 million (USD 4.7 million).  On 9 January 2019, Interfax reported that Yermak Neftegaz registered its first subsidiary in Khanty-Mansiysk (Yugra) Autonomous Okrug (Western Siberia). The Rosneft/BP joint venture became the sole owner of Zapadno-Nikolskoye at the end of December 2018, according to Interfax. Since 2015, Zapadno-Nikolskoye has not been owning any licenses in Russia but still existing as a legal entity. In late January 2019, Zapadno-Nikolskoye was re-named to Srednelenskoye.  Rosneft inherited Zapadno-Nikolskoye as the result of the TNK-BP acquisition in 2013.
Rosneft transferred 2 licences in Yakutia (Sakha) Republic, to its existing 51:49 JV with BP YermakNeftegaz, so far only present in W. Siberia. Involved are the Sredne-Lenskiy (9834kmÂ²) + Olekminskiy (6121kmÂ² undrilled) block, both in the Predpatom B.