MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) - Reducing the number of Russia's idle oil wells to less than 10% of the overall number of producing wells will increase annual production by 30 million tons (220.5 million bbl), a senior official said Monday.
Sergei Sai, the head of the Federal Agency for the Oversight of Natural Resources, said the current share of idle oil wells in the country was 15% (37,200). He added that another 9% (22,300) had been temporarily abandoned and 6% (14,900) completely abandoned.
"We will soon take administrative measures against companies that have violated the norms of oil-well drilling," he said.
The majority of idle wells are located on oil fields developed by oil companies TNK-BP and Yukos, 30% and 20% respectively, Sai said in a statement.
