Sakhalin-II

Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field
Lunskoye natural gas field

Location of Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field
Lunskoye natural gas field

Country Russia
Region Sakhalin
Offshore/onshore offshore
Coordinates 52°52′12″N 143°46′12″E / 52.87000°N 143.77000°E / 52.87000; 143.77000Coordinates: 52°52′12″N 143°46′12″E / 52.87000°N 143.77000°E / 52.87000; 143.77000
Operator Sakhalin Energy
Partners Gazprom, Royal Dutch Shell Mitsui, Mitsubishi
Field history
Discovery 1984 (Lunskoye); 1986 (Piltun-Astokhskoye)
Start of development 1994
Start of production 1999
Production
Current production of oil 395,000 barrels per day (~1.97×10^7 t/a)
Current production of gas 53×10^6 m3/d (1.9×10^9 cu ft/d)
Estimated oil in place 1,200 million barrels (~1.6×10^8 t)
Estimated gas in place 500×10^9 m3 (18×10^12 cu ft)
Producing formations Astokh feature

The Sakhalin-2 (Russian: Сахалин-2) project is an oil and gas development in Sakhalin Island, Russia. It includes development of the Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field and the Lunskoye natural gas field offshore Sakhalin Island in the Okhotsk Sea, and associated infrastructure onshore. The project is managed and operated by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy).

Sakhalin-2 includes the first liquefied natural gas plant in Russia. The development is situated in areas previously little touched by human activity, causing various groups to criticize the development activities and the impact they have on the local environment.[1]

History

See also: Sakhalin Energy

The first ever Russian production sharing agreement was signed in the framework of the Sakhalin-2 project in 1994. Production began from the Molikpaq platform in the Piltun-Astokhskoye field in July 1999, and in September 1999 the first crude oil was exported.

The consortium Sakhalin Energy had a contract to produce gas without a local partner. However, in 2005–2006 the consortium was heavily criticized due to environmental issues and the legal proceeding on violation of the Russian environmental regulations were initiated.[2] In the result, The Russian government ordered to terminate the project on September 2006.[3] Under legal and political pressure, the consortium was forced to sell a majority stake to Gazprom. On 21 December, Gazprom took control over a 50%-plus-one-share stake in the project by signing an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the signing ceremony in Moscow and indicated that environmental issues had been resolved.[1][4]

The LNG plant was inaugurated on 18 February 2009. The first cargo was loaded to the LNG carrier Grand Aniva at the end of March 2009.[5]

Technical features

Dmitry Medvedev, Taro Aso, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Maria van der Hoeven visit the Sakhalin-II project on 18 February 2009.

The two fields contain an estimated 1,200 million barrels (190×10^6 m3) of crude oil and 500 billion cubic meters (18 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas; 9.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year and about 180,000 barrels per day (29,000 m3/d) of oil will be produced.[6] The total project cost until 2014 was originally estimated by Royal Dutch Shell to be between US$9 and $11 billion. However, the costs turned out to be substantially underestimated and in July 2005 Shell revised the estimate upwards to $20 billion.

Sakhalin-2 project includes:

Piltun-Astokhskoye-A platform

The Molikpaq drilling and oil production platform (Piltun-Astokhskoye-A platform) is an ice-resistant structure, originally built to explore for oil in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. It had been mothballed in 1990, and was installed in the Astokh area of the Piltun-Astokhskoye field, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) offshore, on September 1998.[7] The Molikpaq has production capacity of 90,000 barrels per day (14,000 m3/d) of oil and 1.7 million cubic meters of associated gas.

Lunskoye-A platform

Lunskoye platform under construction
Offshore Lun-A platform

The Lunskoye field platform was installed in June 2006 at the Lunskoye gas field 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) offshore. It has production capacity over 50 million cubic meters of natural gas, around 50,000 barrels per day (7,900 m3/d) of peak liquids (associated water and condensate), and 16,000 barrels per day (2,500 m3/d) of oil.[8]

Piltun-Astokhskoye-B platform

The PA-B platform was installed in July 2007 in the Piltun area of the Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) offshore. The PA-B has production capacity of 70,000 barrels per day (11,000 m3/d) of oil and 2.8 million cubic meters of associated gas.[9]

Onshore processing facility

The onshore processing facility is located in the north-east of Sakhalin Island, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) inland in Nogliki district. It is designed to process natural gas, condensate, and oil from the Lunskoye and the Piltun-Astokhskoye fields prior to pipeline transportation to the oil export terminal and the liquefied natural gas plant in Aniva Bay in the south of Sakhalin Island.[10]

TransSakhalin pipelines

The TransSakhalin pipeline system is designed for transportation of hydrocarbons from the Piltun-Astokhskoye and Lunskoye fields in the North of Sakhalin Island to the onshore processing facility in the Nogliki district and to the LNG plant and the oil export terminal in Aniva Bay.[11]

Oil export terminal

The oil export terminal is located in Aniva Bay to the east of the LNG plant. It includes the export pipeline and the tanker loading unit, where oil-loading to tankers is performed.[12]

LNG plant

The Sakhalin-2 LNG plant is the first of its kind in Russia. It is located in Prigorodnoye in Aniva Bay, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of Korsakov. Construction of the LNG plant was carried out by OAO Nipigaspererabothka (Nipigas) and the KhimEnergo consortium, together with two Japanese companies Chiyoda Corporation and Toyo Engineering Corporation. The plant has been designed to prevent major loss of containment in the event of an earthquake and to ensure the structural integrity of critical elements such as emergency shut down valves and the control room of the plant.

The LNG plant includes:

The LNG plant production capacity is 9.6 million tons of LNG per year. The consortium is examining the possibility of adding another train.[13] A special gas liquefaction process was developed by Shell for use in cold climates such as Sakhalin, based on the use of a double mixed refrigerant.

The LNG plant has two LNG double-walled, storage tanks with a capacity of 100,000 cubic metres (3,500,000 cu ft) each. LNG is exported via an 805 metres (2,641 ft) jetty in Aniva Bay. The jetty is fitted with four arms – two loading arms, one dual purpose arm and one vapour return arm. The upper deck is designed for a road bed and electric cables. The lower deck is used for the LNG pipeline, communication lines and a footpath. LNG is pumped from the storage tanks into the parallel loading lines which are brought to the LNG jetty. At the jetty head, the pipelines are connected with the jetty's four loading arms. The water depth at the tail of the jetty is 14 metres (46 ft). The jetty will serve LNG tankers which have capacities of between 18,000 and 145,000 cubic metres (640,000 and 5,120,000 cu ft). Loading operations are estimated to take from six to 16 hours, depending on vessel capacity. The jetty will be able to handle loading of around 160 LNG carriers per year.

Plans for Piltun-Astokhskoye-C platform

At the 9th meeting of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel (December 2010) Sakhalin Energy provided some preliminary information on its plans for a major new development project in the Piltun-Astokh field, called South Piltun. This is likely to include construction and installation of a new platform, called PA-C, approximately halfway between the existing PA-A (Molikpaq) and PA-B platforms.[14]

Supply contracts

Contracts for the supply of LNG have been signed with:

Consortium

Main article: Sakhalin Energy

The projects is owned and operated by Sakhalin Energy. Shareholders of Sakhalin Energy are:

Financing

Sakhalin Energy looked for finances from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. However, on 11 January 2007 EBRD withdrew its consideration of financing for Sakhalin-2, claiming that Gazprom's acquisition of the controlling stake of Sakhalin-2 resulted in a to the project making it is unfeasible for the EBRD to pursue the current project.[16] Meanwhile, environmental organizations contend that Sakhalin II had "chronically and substantially violated EBRD's environmental policy".[17][18]

The consortium applied for nearly a billion dollars in financing from the public export credit agencies of the United States and the United Kingdom, but in early March 2008 these applications were withdrawn due to the drawn-out and uncertain decision making process] by these banks.[19] However, environmental groups contend that the drawn-out process was due to the fact that the company failed to demonstrate compliance with these public banks' environmental policies.[20]

In June 2008 Sakhalin Energy signed Russia's largest project finance deal, securing a loan of US$5.3 billion from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and a consortium of international banks. Japan Bank for International Cooperation provided $3.7 billion of the funds.[21][22]

Environmental issues

In July 2005, a Russian court upheld the appeal of environmentalists who claimed in a petition that Sakhalin Energy's environmental impact assessment, was inadequate. Sakhalin Energy denied the claims and stated them as vague and inaccurate.[23] The environmental and social concerns came to a head at the end of November 2005 when the chief executive of WWF, Robert Napier, said that it would have a "negative impact on Sakhalin's people and environment". The WWF asserted that Sakhalin-2 threatens marine life as well as potentially damaging the local communities in the region. Sakhalin Energy responded to the WWF's assertion by saying that the project meets lenders' policies and that environmental and social issues have been met.[24]

In September 2006, Sakhalin Energy briefly suspended construction work on its pipelines. Oleg Mitvol, the deputy chief of the Russian Federal Service for Natural Resources, had announced in early August 2006 that, according to his data, Sakhalin Energy failed to take all actions required to eliminate the danger of the mud flow.[25] This was supported by President Vladimir Putin.[26]

Threats to gray whales

Western Gray whale on Sakhalin

One key concern from environmental groups is that the Sakhalin-2 project will harm the western gray whale population. The whales summer feeding grounds are close to the project's offshore platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk.[27][28]

In 2006, the International Union for Conservation of Nature set up the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel (WGWAP). Its members are marine scientists who give independent advice to Sakhalin Energy about managing any potential risks to the western gray whales.[29] The Russian Academy of Sciences has identified an increasing population of western gray whales in the Sea of Okhotsk during a photo identification research programme.[30] However, in February 2009 the WGWAP issued an urgent warning that the number of western gray whales observed in the primary (near shore) feeding area had decreased and the panel called for a "...moratorium on all industrial activities, both maritime and terrestrial, that have the potential to disturb gray whales in summer and autumn on and near their main feeding areas."[31] In a meeting in April 2009, the WGWAP reiterated its urgent plea for a moratorium. Sakhalin Energy then agreed to suspend its planned summer 2009 seismic testing.[32]

The Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute is involved in regular monitoring of the western gray whales near the oil and gas developments on the Sakhalin Shelf.[33]

In December 2008, Sakhalin Energy won the Environmental Project of the Year award. The company’s protection of the Western Gray Whale population was recognised in the Environmental Efficiency of Economics category. The award was presented by Yuri Trutnev, the Russian Federation’s Natural Resources Minister.[34]

The most recent population assessment in 2008 resulted in an estimate of 130 individuals in the western population.[35] No new reproductive females were recorded in 2010, resulting in a minimum of 26 reproductive females being observed since 1995.[35]

Multiple seismic surveys were conducted near Sakhalin in 2010, carried out separately by Rosneft, Sakhalin Energy and Gazprom. The surveys conducted by Sakhalin Energy and Rosneft apparently had corresponding monitoring and mitigation plans. The monitoring data, including acoustic and visual information on whale distribution and behavior, is yet to be analyzed. Two of those seismic surveys occurred later in the year when more gray whales were present and temporally overlapped.[35]

Critically endangered North Pacific Right Whales are also present in the region.[36]

Salmon fishing

Other concerns are that the project will threaten the livelihood of tens of thousands of fishermen, destroy the key salmon fishing area off the island by dumping one million tons of dredging spoil waste into the sea, and imply a long-time threat of a large oil spill in the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan.[37] Dredging of Aniva Bay was completed in 2005. In 2005 the salmon harvest was recorded as an all-time high of more than 134,000 tonnes. In 2007 this record was overturned with a salmon catch of 144,181 tonnes.[38]

Sakhalin Energy paid compensation of $110,000 to the Russian Federation to cover potential fish impacts from the Sakhalin-2 project. This compensation was paid regardless of whether any impact was recorded on the fishing industry or not. Part of these funds was used to set up thriving salmon hatcheries on Sakhalin Island.[39]

Impacts on rivers and streams

According to the Sakhalin Environment Watch, the following environmental changes have occurred:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Miriam Elder (2008-12-27). "Russia look to control world's gas prices". Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  2. ↑ Tom Parfitt (2006-10-04). "Kremlin attack dog vows to take on Shell in the battle of Sakhalin". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  3. ↑ Hiroko Uchida (2007-05-14). "Russia Sakhalin 2 no shinso" (PDF). Harveyroad Weekly. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  4. ↑ Melissa Kite; Nicholas Holdsworth (2008-12-24). "Russian bullying over oil is 'a wake-up call'". Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  5. ↑ Tanya Mosolova; Denis Dyomkin (2009-02-18). "Russian LNG plant extends Kremlin's energy reach". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  6. ↑ "LNG puts Sakhalin on map". RIA Novosti. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Sakhalin II, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia". offshore-technology.com. Net Resources International. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  8. ↑ Lunskoye Platform (LUN-A) www.sakhalinenergy.ru
  9. ↑ PA-B Platform www.sakhalinenergy.ru
  10. ↑ Onshore Processing Facility www.sakhalinenergy.ru
  11. ↑ Onshore Pipeline www.sakhalinenergy.ru
  12. ↑ Oil Export Terminal www.sakhalinenergy.ru
  13. ↑ "Sakhalin Energy Examines Viability Of Possible 3rd LNG Train". Downstream Today. 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  14. ↑ "REPORT OF THE WESTERN GRAY WHALE ADVISORY PANEL AT ITS NINTH MEETING, 3-6 December 2010 Geneva, Switzerland" (PDF). WESTERN GRAY WHALE ADVISORY PANEL. Convened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
  15. ↑ "Transfer of Sakhalin Energy Shares Completed" (PDF) (Press release). Mitsubishi. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  16. ↑ "EBRD no longer considers current financing package for Sakhalin-2" (Press release). European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Sakhalin II Monitoring and Transparency of Information" (PDF). European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2010-02-24. Archived 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ Benoit Faucon (2005-10-11). "Environmental Groups Develop New Ways to Air Grievances - Financing, Not Pipelines, Becomes the Latest Target". Dow Jones Newswires. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Sakhalin abandons petition to UK and US export credit agencies". Environmental Finance. 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Environmental Victory: Sakhalin II Announces It Cannot Get Financing from US and UK Export Credit Agencies" (Press release). Pacific Environment. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  21. ↑ "JBIC Signs Loan Agreement for Sakhalin II (Phase 2) Project To Secure Stable Supply of Energy Resource and Energy Security for Japan" (Press release). Japan Bank for International Cooperation. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Sakhalin 2 operator secures $5.3 bln in project financing". RIA Novosti. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Shell in Russia's far east - Courting controversy". September 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  24. ↑ "Risky Business - the new Shell" (PDF). World Wide Fund for Nature. November 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
  25. ↑ "Sakhalin Energy Suspends Construction". Kommersant. Kommersant Publishing House. 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  26. ↑ Tony Halpin (2006-09-28). "Putin takes hard line on Shell Sakhalin dispute". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  27. ↑ Geoffrey Lean (2008-04-13). "Britain ignored risk of whale extinction in rush for oil and gas". The Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Sakhalin Energy Will Relocate Pipelines to Avoid Rare Whales". Environmental News Service. 2005-03-31. Archived from the original on 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  29. ↑ "Scientists work with oil consortium to limit effects of seismic work on critically-endangered whale population" (Press release). International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  30. ↑ Tyurneva, Olga; Vladimir Vertyankin, Vladimir; Yakovlev, Yuri; Vladimirov, Valery; Burkanov, Vladimir (2007-10-26). BM Photo-IDof Western Gray Whales on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island: 2002–2006 (PDF). PICES XVI Annual Meeting. Victoria, British Columbia: North Pacific Marine Science Organization. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  31. ↑ "Report of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel at its Fifth Meeting" (PDF). International Union for Conservation of Nature. December 2008: 32–33. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  32. ↑ "IUCN welcomes reprieve for whales" (Press release). International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  33. ↑ Tkalin, Alexander (July 2003). "Recent oceanographic and marine environmental studies at FERHRI" (PDF). 11 (2). North Pacific Marine Science Organization: 32–34. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  34. ↑ "Sakhalin Energy won the environmental award". Sakhalin Energy. Retrieved December 2008. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  35. 1 2 3 "Report of the Scientific Committee, Tromsø, Norway, 30 May to 11 June 2011 Annex F: Sub-Committee on Bowhead, Right and Gray Whale" (PDF). IWC Office.
  36. ↑ Shipulin 2012 А давайте я вам китов покажу, а? . LiveJournal. retrieved on 09 June 2014
  37. ↑ Sakhalin Environment Watch. "Sakhalin-II Oil and Gas Project - Introduction". Retrieved 2006-09-20.
  38. ↑ "Sakhalin has Bumper Salmon harvest – again!" (Press release). Sakhalin Energy. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  39. ↑ "Indigenous People:Development plan announced" (Press release). Sakhalin Energy. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  40. ↑ "Sakhalin Energy's muddy waters - A "few cases" where Sakhalin Energy is endangering wild salmon on Sakhalin Island". Retrieved 2007-11-12.
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