Romantics from the North of Tomsk Area

No doubt the huge capital investments made by RussNeft served its purpose. The means were used to maintain the functional oilfields, Sobolinoye and Gurarinskoye, and to improve production and field facilities. However such good results were obtained mostly thanks to the people whose everyday conscientious work helped make plans a reality. This work has also become their vocation and way of life. One of such ‘inconspicuous characters’ is Vladimir Novosyolov, an oil and gas production foreman at Sobolinoye ZAO.
“I entered the profession rather by chance,” Vladimir said somewhat embarrassed. “I went to general school No 55 and after finishing the 8th form entered a geological exploratory technical school. Upon leaving it I got a profession with an intricate name which ran, “Mineral Deposit Exploration Technology and Equipment”. I had gone to this technical school only because it was not far from my home, but in the course of the studies I soon discovered that the future profession was to my liking. I had always been disposed towards romance and for me the fields where I was going to work had more than enough of excitement and adventure. So upon leaving the technical school I continued my studies at the Tomsk Polytechnic University. In 1996 I graduated from the University and got fixed up in a job at Oil and Gas Production Department Luginetskneft. So I suddenly found myself in the fields at large. At first it was difficult, arduous rhythm of work and lack of experience. University training is, of course, of the benefit, but it teaches only fundamental approaches and concepts with no specifics and difficulties which one encounters and learns to overcome only in the field. However, I got used to it rather quickly, acquired practical skills and learned the tricks of the system. One might say, I became a true oilman. In the autumn of 2001 with the five years of experience I came to work at Sobolinoye ZAO which at that time was only in the stage of coming to existence. At the new place there were also many difficulties. At that time Sobolinoye ZAO was exploring a new area starting from square one. New field facilities were to be constructed and a dozen of wells to be drilled. It also meant that many things from building materials to automatic equipment were to be brought to this out-of-the-way area in the marshland, and a road was to be paved in the inclement climate of the north, a pipeline to be laid, a compressor and pumping station to be installed. Tank trucks were used to take the crude oil produced to the delivery and acceptance point of the Luginetskoye oilfield. Gradually the infrastructure spread and the facilities developed. The process became more active when RussNeft came to the Tomsk region.
Change of the owner has had a strong impact on the development of the company,” continued Novosyolov. “Investments have increased, new technologies are introduced, and modern equipment is bought. The new owners prove to be serious people that have settled here for a long time. Over the past year new communication lines, oilfield networks, a pressure pipeline, a delivery and acceptance point, a custody transfer station have appeared in the oilfield. We have everything for normal work and recreation. We live in a hostel accommodating 56 people. In the hostel there is a good dining-room, small gymnasium with training equipment and even the satellite TV channel. And our salaries are no bad either. The only thing we must do is to work fast and well.
A rotation team has 60 people including geologists, operators, and mechanics. These are different people but all of them are faithful to their work. Crude extraction is a complicated process. The crude coming from the oil well is subjected to treatment to remove water and dirt. Then it goes to a delivery and acceptance point to be further pumped into Transneft trunk pipeline via a custody transfer station. It is the operators who look after the performance of the well. If something goes wrong they “treat the well”, as the oilmen put it. Just ‘treat’ it as doctors. Each oil well has its own parameters to be maintained. Everything must be in compliance with the process mode.
It was an unusually hard job during the last January rotation. There was a biting frost of 50 degrees. The equipment failed, diesel generators stalled several times, diesel oil congealed, and electric power got disconnected. But good coordination between all the services helped prevent serious breakdowns. In its turn, the company values the selfless service of its personnel providing their social benefits. The employees of the company and their children can afford to spend their vacation at the Black Sea or local recreation and holiday centers. The company provides additional means for health protection of its employees and for improvement of their housing conditions.  In the company it is in practice to refund the tuition fees the employees pay for their children studying at colleges. Career development is also welcomed. All depends on personal inclinations and enthusiasm. That may be the reason of zero turnover.
While working in the oil industry one feels sure of the future,” says Vladimir Novosyolov. “With the help of the company I bought myself a one-bedroom flat having taken an interest-free mortgage credit of 500 thousand roubles. And above all, in the field I met many friends. I am very friendly with manager Eugene Kornaukhov, it’s a between-family friendship. Here in the field there is a special rhythm of life and special people always ready to help you. And indeed, I am proud of my oilman career.
“Do you have any time left for hobbies?” I asked Vladimir in the end.
“Not so much as I would like to. As a child I went in for ship modeling sport. Unfortunately now this hobby is in the background.  
I still have a passion for football, though. Of course, I root for our Tom’ football team and never miss a match. Even on rotation we closely follow all the moves of our favourite team. Before, to know the results of a game we listened to the Mayak radio station reports or even had to call up friends and relative on the ‘continent’. Now it’s better as we have a satellite TV channel. 
Pavel Roschin