Russia's Rosneft and Norway's Statoil started drilling an exploration well in the Sea of Okhotsk, a marginal sea at the far east of Russia, Rosneft announced on Thursday.
According to the announcement, the signal to begin drilling was given by the Rosneft Chairman of the Management Board Igor Sechin.
"Implementation of the offshore projects in upstream is one of the company’s most important strategic goals, a contribution to the whole oil and gas industry," Sechin said.
Rosneft and Statoil ASA signed a cooperation agreement in 2012 to jointly explore areas of the Russian shelf and for Rosneft to join in the exploration of the Norwegian shelf.
"It is the country’s only company that continues the work on new projects offshore in accordance with its license obligations despite the complicated external environment," Sechin said in the statement.
"We are pleased to commence the key stage of project within the scope of the long-term cooperation with our partner – Statoil – the drilling of exploration wells in the Sea of Okhotsk," he added.
Western sanctions on Russia over the conflict with Ukraine impacted some of the energy projects with its western allies such as producing oil from the Arctic, from deepwater, and from shale.
This project is not subject to U.S. and European sanctions.
According Rosneft's statement, the two wells which will be drilled this summer with Statoil are located in the south of Arctic zone boundary and the sea depth is less than 150m.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
ebrusengul@aa.com.tr