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Gazprom steps up in Barents- and Kara Seas

Gazprom Neft platform Prirazlomnoye
Gazprom Neft has one platform in operation in the Pechora Sea, the Prirazlomnoye.

STAVANGER: Ambitious Arctic offshore exploration plan will need 80 rigs, platforms, tankers, supply vessels and crew boats.

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Despite sanctions, Russian oil and gas companies are more active than ever in establishing contacts at the huge oil exhibition ONS in Stavanger this week.

Speaking to delegates at ONS, Gazprom’s deputy chairman in the management committee, Valery Golubev, invited Norwegian industry team up for technological solutions to tackle harsh Arctic climate.

Quoted by upstream, Golubev said industry needs to collaborate in order to “mobilise the right minds.”

Such cooperation could be strongly needed for Gazprom as the company is presenting its ambitions for the next decade in Arctic waters like the Barents- and Kara Seas.

At least 30 rigs will be needed if Gazprom should succeed in doubling its Arctic reserves by 2014, according to the presentation by Golubev. In addition, new tankers, supply vessels and crew-boats have to be built. In total, Gazprom sees some 80 new vessels and rigs in pipe.

GazpromNeft is today the only offshore operator in the European part of Russia’s Arctic. The Prirazlomnoye rig in the Pechora Sea started production earlier this year. This summer, test-drilling led by GazpromNeft takes place at the nearby Dolginskoie field. News about possible findings is so far not released.

Next year, another test drill will take place in the same area. Then, Gazprom will have a two year break before starting up again in 2018 and 2019 with four drillings teach year o be doubled to eight drillings in 2020 and 2021. 

Golubev’s presentation showed that the Kara Sea will have special attention in Gazprom’s test-drilling program over the next ten years. The company will drill some 50 wildcats in the period. The vessels to be built will serve this drill program.

“Ten years is just a tiny period of time to build up such a large fleet, but we realize we don’t have any other option,” Valery Golubev said quoted by upstream.