Russ Oil-Gas

17 July 2007 - Upstream OnLine - Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom, has asked Norway's Statoil to join a project off the island of Sakhalin, according to reports. "It was a very early discussion, which was part of our broader memorandum of understanding," a source close to Gazprom Neft told Reuters. The invitation concerns the Lopukhovsky Block, a prospect off Sakhalin bought by Gazprom Neft from BP's Russian venture TNK-BP. Gazprom Neft has been slow in developing the prospect and Russia's resources ministry had threatened to cancel its licence, although Russian media reported today the licence had been extended for another three years. Statoil is also hoping to partner Gazprom on the giant Shtokman gas field. However, France’s Total last week overtook Statoil and other Shtokman contenders to become Gazprom's first development partner for the field.