Rosneft and Eni Start Seismic Operations in Barents Sea

Russia’s Rosneft and Italy-based Eni started seismic field operations at the Fedynsky and Central Barents license areas, in the ice-free part of the Russian offshore Barents Sea, scheduling a 2D seismic survey along with the on-board gravity and magnetic measurements.

“The data will be collected by geophysical methods from a specialized seismic survey vessel,” reads a note released by Rosneft on Monday.

Licenses for geological studies, exploration and hydrocarbons production at Fedynsky and Central Barents blocks were issued to Rosneft on January 26, 2012.

Rosneft signed an agreement with Enitwelve months ago to jointly finance geological exploration work at three Russian offshore blocks. The current joint activities are indeed part of the wider cooperation between the two companies sanctioned under the Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed in April 2012.

“During the seismic survey a program of environmental monitoring and safe operations control will be implemented,” reads the note.

Eni and Rosneft formed Joint Venture companies to operate each of the Russian offshore projects, with Rosneft holding a 66.67% stake and Eni holding the remaining 33.33% stake.