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Gazprom moves offshore activities away from Barents

Far eastern waters are the top priority in Gazprom's offshore strategy.

The gas monopoly is moving its main offshore development company to the Russian Pacific coast. At the same time, a new unit is established in Murmansk.

Location

The decision to move the Gazprom Dobycha Shelf to Sakhalin was taken in early February by the Gazprom management. At the same time, the subsidiary is renamed to Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a press release reads.

The moving of the company to the east comes as Gazprom is increasingly engaged in activities in the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as in the waters off Sakhalin. The company controls several major liceses in the area, among them to the huge Kirinskoye and Yuzhno-Kirinskoye fields. A part of Gazprom’s plans for the area is the construction of a LNG plant in Vladivostok.

Despite the enhanced interest in the far east, Gazprom does not give up the Barents Sea. A new subsidiary company is to be established in Murmansk. The company Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Murmansk will be responsible for following up exploration and development in the Barents Sea. It will also be closely involved in the Shtokman project, Gazprom informs.

The Gazprom Dobycha Shelf company was established in 2008 and has since been the main offshore project development unit of Gazprom. It has been based in Moscow, and has operated regional offices in Murmansk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Sankt Petersburg.