Russian oil and gas producer Gazprom Neft and Mitsubishi Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to share competencies and expertise in developing high-technology upstream projects in the shallow marine shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The MoU was signed by Mitsubishi Corporation Europe/Russia Oil and Gas Business Department general manager Naoto Miyamoto and Gazprom Neft Business Development and Offshore Regulation Department head Sergei Matrosov.
Gazprom Neft Offshore Development deputy CEO Andrey Patrushev said: “Offshore development is one of the company’s strategic priorities. Gazprom Neft is actively developing and investigating all of the offshore licence blocks in our portfolio.
“Several of the company’s projects are of major importance for the oil industry in both Russia and worldwide. The company has extensive experience and expertise, sought after at the global level.
“Collaboration with leading international manufacturing corporations, and the mutually beneficial sharing of technologies, opens up new opportunities for implementing high-technology projects on the Russian continental shelf, for us and our partners.”
Gazprom Neft manages a large portfolio of offshore upstream projects in Russia. Last year, the company discovered the Neptune field, on the Sea of Okhotsk continental shelf. Currently, work is proceeding on this field.
The company has Ayashsky license block in the Sea of Okhotsk, in north-eastern part of the Sakhalin Island continental shelf, around 55km offshore.
The sea depth at the drilling site for the first well is 62m and around 2,150m² of 3D seismic works have already been completed at this block.
Due to innovative solutions in geological prospecting, drilling, and logistics, the company claims to have reduced lead-times and costs in exploring the field’s potential.
With the experience gained in Sakhalin, the company plans to lead other offshore projects in the future.
