Governor of NAO: Prirazlomnaya should be followed by new deposits at the shelf of the Barents and Kara Seas, Gulf of Ob

The delegation of the Russian and foreign oil producing companies headed by the Vice Premier of Russia, I. Sechin, and the Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area, I. Fedorov, visited the offshore ice-resistant platform Prirazlomnaya, the press service of the Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area reports. 
I. Sechin got acquainted with the process of works at the platform having inspected the housing and production facilities of the unique object. The oil production complex, that is among the top-10 largest oil producing offshore platforms in the world, has been installed for the first time in such a  high latitude. The transportation complex is formed for the development of the deposit. Gazprom has built 2 shuttle tankers of ice reinforcement “Mikhail Ulyanov” and “Kirill Lavrov”, another vessel of such type is planned to be constructed in future. 2 special vessels “Vladislav Strizhov” and “Yuri Topchev” feed the platform. The terminal station construction is coming to the end at Varandey, the administrative and living quarters will be equipped in Usinsk.
All the works at the platform are carried out without any delays, according to the schedule – CEO of Gazprom neft shelf, A. Mandel, told I. Sechin. About 500 specialists work at the object now. The start-up works are held at the energy complex, drilling equipment and other complexes are being prepared, communication lines are being laid. All the works will be completed in the mid of 2012 though we plan to obtain the first oil earlier.
In the framework of the international conference “Arctic-territory of dialog” a video conference between Arkhangelsk and Prirazlomnaya was held. I. Sechin reported to the Prime Minister, V. Putin, on the state of works at Prirazlomnaya. The Prime Minister paid particular attention to the ecological and production safety of the object.
Moreover, on board of the platform an agreement on cooperation between United shipbuilding corporation OAO and the Italian company Saypem Spa was signed, in the framework of which it is planned to found a new jointly controlled (50/50) company on the realization of new plans and oil and gas projects on the territory of Russia and overseas. The goal of the project, according to the agreement, is the maximum use of the companies’ resources by means of integration in Russia of “know-how” connected with projecting, material support and construction in the sphere of realization of oil and gas projects including the projects on the construction of floating production platforms. In Moscow and Saint-Petersburg 2 complexes will be formed – the office in Moscow will deal with coordination and commercial development, in Saint-Petersburg – hold the operative activity connected with the realization and development of the projects. The agreement was signed by the President of OSK OAO, R. Trotsenko, and CEO of Saypem Spa, P. F. Tali. 
At the end of the visit the Vice Premier I. Sechin made an entry in the book of honored guests: “I wish the team of Prirazlomnaya health, luck and wellness. This project is the first experience of the Russian companies in the Arctic. It will be followed by other projects, which I hope we will watch.”
The Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area commented: “The visit to Prirazlomnaya by I. Sechin and other honored guests is the evidence of the particular importance of the project for our country of the development of the deposit on the shelf of the Pechora Sea. The scale of the event is far above the framework of the Nenets Autonomous Area. It is a step forward in the energy safety issue of Russia. New deposits should follow Prirazlomnaya at the shelf of the Barents and Kara Seas and the Gulf of Ob. In total up to 20 platforms at the shelf of the Arctic Ocean might be developed.”  

http://www.geonews.com.ua/index.cgi?a=42619
Translated by Galiya Musabekova