Russia’s Gazprom Dobycha Shelf is reportedly preparing to start work on onshore infrastructure for the Shtokman project in 2012.
A final investment decision for the gas and LNG development is due to be made by the year-end.
The subsidiary of Russian gas monopoly Gazprom also plans to issue a tender in the first quarter of 2012 for ice-class drilling units to develop the gas field in the Barents Sea, general director Gennady Gavrilin told the Barents Observer.
First gas is targeted in 2016 from Shtokman, which is estimated to hold about 3.8 trillion cubic metres of reserves, with LNG exports to follow a year later.
Gazprom Dobycha Shelf will start by building harbour facilities and communication lines at the onshore liquefaction plant site at the fishing village of Teriberka near Murmansk.
“If the first gas from Shtokman is to be produced in 2016, the harbour and LNG plant must be ready in 2017. “We are absolutely sure we can keep this schedule,” Gavrilin said.
