Russia is Developing Subsea Production Systems
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade is working with Gazprom and several Russian research institutions to develop domestic subsea production systems for prototype production in 2019 and testing in 2020. The initiative is underway as the country aims to reduce its dependence on imports in its oil and gas industry, specifically in natural gas liquefaction projects. Subsea production systems enable hydrocarbon production in severe climatic conditions, even under ice, without the use of platforms or other above-water facilities. Gazprom is the currently only Russian company employing subsea production technologies…
Gazprom Discovers New Gas Deposit in Sea of Okhotsk
Gazprom said on Thursday it had discovered a new gas deposit during exploration at the Kirinskoye field in the Sea of Okhotsk near Russia's Sakhalin island. The field is crucial for Gazprom's plans to raise liquefied gas production at its Sakhalin-2 plant on the island. It has not disclosed the reserves of the newly discovered deposit. Shell, which also has a stake in the LNG plant, may also get a share in the Kirinskoye field as part of an asset swap deal with Gazprom, though the prospects for this are uncertain because of international sanctions for Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis.
Sovcomflot Ups its Role in the Sakhalin-2 Project
Sovcomflot Group (SCF Group) said its fleet will have greater involvement in serving the Sakhalin-2 offshore platforms for Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy). SCF Group, Sakhalin Energy and Swire Pacific Offshore have signed several agreements that entail the purchase of two platform supply vessels from Swire Pacific Offshore by SCF Group. All the three platform supply vessels used in the Sakhalin-2 project will now be operated by SCF Group under long-term time charter contracts with Sakhalin Energy. The three ships are multipurpose ice-class (Ice-10) supply vessels…
Sanctions May Affect LNG Supplies to Japan
U.S.'s sanctions against Gazprom's Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas field may affect future liquefied natural gas supplies to Japan, Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky as saying on Thursday. In August, the U.S. added the field, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, to its sanctions list over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova)
Rosneft: COSL to Drill Offshore Wells
China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) will drill two offshore exploration wells for Russia's Rosneft, the Kremlin-controlled oil giant said on Wednesday, as it is trying to overcome restrictions related to Western sanctions. Rosneft said COSL will make two exploration wells for its joint project with Norway's Statoil in the Far Eastern Sea of Okhotsk in 2016. The operations have not been restricted by the Western sanctions, though Rosneft has been at difficulty to attract foreign partners and funds. The sanctions are related to shale oil, deep sea and Arctic offshore projects. Last year, ExxonMobil had to withdraw from a joint project with Rosneft in the Arctic.
US Adds Russian Oil Field to Sanctions List
The United States has added a Russian oil and gas field, the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye Field, to its list of energy sector sanctions prompted by Moscow's actions in Ukraine, drawing a prompt rebuke from the Kremlin on Friday. The federal government said on Thursday the field, located in the Sea of Okhotsk of the Siberian coast and owned by Russia's leading gas producer Gazprom, contains substantial reserves of oil in addition to reserves of gas. "The Yuzhno-Kirinskoye Field is being added to the Entity List because it is reported to contain substantial reserves of oil," according to a rule notice in the Federal Register. A Kremlin spokesman criticized the move.
Gazprom adds over 800 bcm of gas
Gazprom hosted today Press Conference at its headquarters to provide an update on the company's performance on Mineral and Raw Material Base Development. Taking part in the Press Conference were Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Gazprom; Members of the Gazprom Management Committee: Oleg Aksyutin, Dmitry Lyugai, Sergey Prozorov and Vsevolod Cherepanov. It was pointed out that Gazprom owned an extensive resource base. As of December 31, 2014 Gazprom’s A+B+C1 explored natural gas reserves (Russian classification) amounted to 36.07 trillion cubic meters representing 72 per cent of the Russian or nearly 17 per cent of the global reserves.
Gazprom Building up Resource Base
In 2014 Gazprom Group (excluding Gazprom Neft) performed exploratory drilling of above 125,000 m of rocks, constructed 32 prospecting and exploratory (7 and 25 accordingly) wells. Over six thousand linear kilometers of 2D seismic profiles were processed, 3D seismic survey covered in excess of 11 thousand square kilometers. In the Russian Federation, prospecting drilling was performed across an area of more than 112 thousand meters of rocks. 30 prospecting and exploratory (24 exploratory and 6 prospecting) wells were constructed. Above six thousand linear kilometers of 2D seismic profiles were processed…
Norway Supports Statoil, Rosneft JV
Norwegian authorities have given the Stavanger-based energy giant Statoil the go-ahead on joint projects with Rosneft, a Russian oil titan that was the target of Western sanctions in 2014. Statoil and Rosneft previously agreed on four projects to explore and produce oil on the Russian continental shelf in the Barents Sea and in the Sea of Okhotsk close to the Arctic Circle. Additionally, there are two joint cooperation projects onshore. Statoil has received certain authorisations from the Norwegian authorities to continue its participation in the projects described above, RIA Novosti reports.
Rosneft Oil Company's Robust Performance
On July 25, 2014, OJSC Rosneft Oil Company came out with their interim consolidated financial statements for 2Q14. In 1H14, the Company continued to demonstrate strong financial results due to stable hydrocarbon production levels, successful development of new projects, capital discipline and control of operational expenses. Hydrocarbon production amounted to 5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day which is 4.6% higher than in 1H13. Daily crude oil and liquids production amounted to 4,160 thousand barrels per day which is practically on a par with the production level in 1H13.
Sovcomflot & Sakhalin Energy to Provide 3 Icebreakers for Sakhalin-2
SCF Group (Sovcomflot) and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy) have signed a contract for the construction and long-term operation of three multifunctional icebreaking standby vessels to serve the Sakhalin-2 offshore energy platforms. The contract covers a 20 year term, during which the vessels will provide safe and reliable services for Sakhalin Energy’s platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk. The vessels will also assist with accommodation of the offshore facilities personnel. In an emergency, the vessels will help evacuate personnel from the offshore platforms and will provide oil spill response services when necessary.
Sovcomflot Extends Cooperation with Sakhalin Energy
Companies sign agreements for long-term operation of three vessels for the Sakhalin-2 project. SCF Group (Sovcomflot) and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. have signed a contract for the construction and long-term operation of three multifunctional icebreaking standby vessels to serve the Sakhalin-2 offshore energy platforms. The contract covers a 20 year term, during which the vessels will provide safe and reliable services for Sakhalin Energy’s platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk. The vessels will also assist with accommodation of the offshore facilities personnel.
Russian Partners Agree Icebreaking OSV Constructions
Sakhalin Energy and Sovcomflot (SCF) inform they have agreed to extend their co-operation having signed a number of agreements for construction and long-term operation of support vessels for the Sakhalin-2 project. SCF explain that the vessels will be used as year-round personnel carriers and also as supply vessela for offshore platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk. In case of emergency, they will be deployed for personnel evacuation and oil spill response. It is intended that Russian shipbuilders will play an active role in the construction…
Arctic Offshore Oil Exploration – Statoil, Rosneft Co-operate
Statoil and Rosneft have signed a cooperation agreement whereby they will jointly explore offshore frontier areas of Russia and Norway and to conduct joint technical studies on two onshore Russian assets. Helge Lund, CEO, Statoil said: “This cooperation agreement is an important milestone in Statoil’s exploration activity in Russia. The agreement secures a long term collaborative position with Rosneft in large, prospective frontier areas in the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. By building on both companies’ competence and experience, this agreement is a significant step further in the industrial development of the Northern areas, says Helge Lund, CEO of Statoil.
