On 29 June 2020, Lukoil, Gazprom Neft and Tatneft announced the completion of a deal regarding setting up JV New Oil Production Technologies LLC (NOPT) aimed at exploration and production of hard-to-recover hydrocarbons in Orenburg Oblast (Volga-Ural Province). Each company holds a one-third interest in the JV. During the initial stage, the venture will operate two licenses in the region.  The Savitskiy block (ORB03334NR) covers 900 sq km and encompasses several prospects and leads. The license was originally awarded to Gazprom Neft and it was transferred to Gazprom Neft's subsidiary Savitskoye in early 2020 as the preparation for the reported deal. It is understood that Gazprom Neft already drilled one exploratory well with horizontal completion and recorded a 880 sq km 3D seismic survey. Five more wells have been planned.  The Zhuravlevskiy block (ORB16634NR) covers 123 sq km and encompasses the suspended Zhuravlevskoye field with remaining in-place reserves estimated 18 MMbbl of oil. The license, awarded to Lukoil-subsidiary RITEK, was transferred to its subsidiary Zhuravlevskiy in March 2020. The JV plans to record 118 sq km of 3D seismic data and to drill one exploratory well for conventional resources and one well for unconventional resources during 2020-2023.
Lukoil, Gazprom Neft and Tatneft have formed New Oil Production Technologies LLC (each holding one third) to explore and produce conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons in the Savitskiy and Zhuravlyovskiy licences (Orenburg region).