Russ Oil-Gas

2009-01-26 - BarentsObserver - Russian energy major Gazprom maintains that the Prirazlomnoe field in the Pechora Sea will be ready for production in 2011 and the Shtokman field in 2013. That is to be achieved partly with help from the Russia state. The company management in a meeting last week highlighted that it intends to meet set deadlines in the Shtokman project. The first gas from the field will be sent towards European consumers in 2013, a press release from the company reads. The Prirazlomnoe field – the first offshore oil field in the Arctic – is to be ready for production in 2011. The company management also stressed that the lobbying of federal ministries for offshore project support will be continued and that a programme on the training of specialist manpower will be elaborated. The press release gives a strong signal from the Russian gas giant about a continued high pressure on the Arctic. At the same time however, the company possibly also signals that adjustments will be made in the company’s plans. Gazprom states that adjustments will be made in the company’s long-term program on shelf development in the period until 2030. The character of the envisaged adjustments remains not clear, however. The company also confirms that it will prepare documentation on the development of shelf projects to the upcoming board meeting. Gazprom today has 13 licenses to offshore projects. In the period 2005-2008 the company boosted its offshore reserves with an additional 1,5 billion tons oil equivalents. In the period 2009-2020, the reserves are to be increased further with 5,6 billion tons of oil equivalents, the company informs.