Rosneft, Statoil start exploration, environmental surveys in Sea of Okhotsk
MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - Russian state oil major Rosneft and Norway's Statoil ASA are beginning seismic exploration work at the Lisyansky, Kashevarovsky and Magadan-1 offshore blocks in the Sea of Okhotsk.
A 2D seismic survey and ship-borne gravity magnetic survey are currently planned for the blocks, Rosneft said in a press release. The data will be collected by geophysical methods from the specialized research ship Akademik Fersman.
The overall scope of the work is 10,000 linear km, including 5,300 km at Lisyansky, 2,000 km at Kashevarovsky and 2,700 km at Magadan-1.
In addition, environmental and fishery research will be done at all three blocks in 2013 by LLC Sakhalin Environmental Company.
Another planned environmental protection measure, Rosneft said, will be to study the underwater wellhead of the Khmitevskaya-2 well drilled at Magadan-1 in the 1990s.
The current work at these blocks is being done by Rosneft's regional management company RN Shelf Far East.
Rosneft and Statoil have signed a cooperation agreement calling, among other things, for joint development of the the Magadan-1, Lisyansky and Kashevarovsky blocks in the Sea of Okhotsk. Statoil will have a 33.3% stake in the projects, and will fully finance geological exploration work at these blocks. In addition, Statoil will reimburse historical expenses incurred by Rosneft, as well as 33.3% of license costs.
Combined projected recoverable resources at the three blocks total 1.741 billion tonnes of oil equivalent.