Offshore oil feels pain as spare parts come short
Security at Russian offshore installations is at risk as oil companies are unable to get hold of needed spare parts.
The Russian Ministry of Energy is openly expressing concern about security and progress in shelf development as deficiency in spare parts and drilling rigs becomes evident.
According to the ministry, Russian companies might lack as many as 150,000 components needed for offshore platforms by year 2020, newspaper Kommersant reports.
That could seriously hamper progress in field development plans, but also compromise security at existing projects.
According to the newspaper, 68 percent of the technical equipment needed by the industry is now subjected to sanctions and consequently out of reach for the Russian drillmen.
Russia needs 20 drilling rigs and platforms in order to be able to follow up their licenses, the energy ministry says. Companies Rosneft and Gazprom are now both applying for adjusted license terms in their offshore projects.
Russia today has offshore production off Sakhalin in the Russian far east and at the Prirazlomnoye field in the Pechora Sea. In the latter project, Russian-made equipment accounts for an estimated 10 percent of the platform construction.
When it comes to shelf exploration, Russia produces less than one percent of the equipment needed, Kommersant writes.
