Russian initiative aims to develop ‘home-grown’ seismic streamer for Arctic exploration

July 5, 2016
The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Gazprom Neft, Rosgeologia, OAO Kontsern Okeanpribor, and the JSC Marine Arctic Geological Expedition have entered into a strategic partnership agreement.

Offshore staff

MOSCOW – The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Gazprom Neft, Rosgeologia, OAO Kontsern Okeanpribor, and the JSC Marine Arctic Geological Expedition (MAGE) have entered into a strategic partnership agreement.

They plan to develop Russian import-substitution technologies for exploration operations offshore the Russian continental shelf.

One priority is to develop a marine geophysical recording facility via a gel-filled towed seismic streamer and elastic wave sources.

Rosgeologia and MAGE will assess technical requirements for the equipment, with OAO Kontsern Okeanpribor responsible for leading research activities, preparing technical documentation, and designing industrial prototypes.

Once prototypes have been created, Gazprom Neft will look to test these on its license blocks. The company currently operates concessions covering development of the Dolginskoye field and over the Severo-Zapadnoye license block in thePechora Sea; the Kheysovskiy license block in the Barents Sea; and the Severo-Vrangelevskiy license block in the East Siberian and Chukchi seas.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will provide consulting and advisory support to the project, specifically on governmental support mechanisms in import-substitution initiatives, including special investment contracts and financing of project consortia through the government’s Production Development Fund.

The various companies expect to establish a coordinating council to facilitate joint operations in all areas covered by the agreement.

07/05/2016

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