Russian oil firm Gazprom Neft is in talks with Norway's StatoilHydro, U.S. Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell to help it develop a field off Sakhalin island, the firm's head said.
Gazprom Neft's president Alexander Dyukov said the firm, the oil arm of Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom , is seeking a partner to share risks in developing its Lopukhovsky block, off Russia's Pacific island.
"Developing a new deposit is a capital consuming process and involves certain risks, which one company cannot take," Dyukov told reporters in remarks cleared for publication on Monday.
The block is estimated to contain 50-60 million tonnes of oil. Gazprom Neft bought it from its Russian rival TNK-BP after the later said it was not attractive enough.
Russia's resources ministry had this year threatened to scrap the licence for Lopukhovsky blaming Gazprom Neft for slow development but in August agreed to extend the licence to 2010.
Gazprom Neft already has a joint venture with Chevron, Northern Taiga Neftegaz, which plans to produce hydrocarbons in West Siberia. Gazprom Neft increased its stake in the venture to 75 percent from the initial 30 percent earlier this month.
StatoilHydro became Gazprom's partner on the giant Shtokman Barents Sea gas field earlier this month.
Sakhalin is one of Russia's most promising oil and gas regions, where almost all global majors are already present.
(Reuters)