Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) said Wednesday it has completed the final well required to bring the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas project in Russia up to full capacity.
The company said last week that Sakhalin's second LNG production will start up in a matter of months and reach full production capacity of 9.6 million metric tons of LNG a year by 2010.
Sakhalin-2 is in Russia's Far East, close to Japan. The bulk of the LNG is contracted for delivery into Asia.
Russian gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) holds 50% plus one share in the holding company Sakhalin Energy, Shell has 27.5%, Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (8031.TO) has 12.5% and Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.TO) 10%.