Statoil looks for ways to be close to Rosneft without touching sanctions

The Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil is looking for ways to expand cooperation with Rosneft without violating the sanctions regime. According to the World Oil, the company began to explore the possibility of drilling two wells in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk next year, and would like to test the winter conditions of production at the North-Komsomolskoye field in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district.

"We want to develop our relations with Rosneft, - says Statoil’s executive vice president for international development, Lars Christian Baker. - But we must do it within the boundaries, set by the sanctions".

Statoil and other producers, such as Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, deepen their penetration in the Russian oil and gas sector, trying not to disturb the sanction "alarm". Limits are set on the work of foreign companies in the Russian Arctic region, on participation in deepwater drilling and exploration of shale deposits and their development.