Tag: Barents Sea

Eni Norge AS awards DNV GL a framework agreement for the supply of inspection services to the Goliat platform in the Barents Sea

Barents Sea oil drilling safety examined by Norway

The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) plays a key role in the maritime safety On duty round the clock monitoring tankers and other risk traffic in the Barents Sea and along the coast of Norway. The amount of oil shipped out from Russia has not increased and no voyages with nuclear waste have taken place this year.The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) in Vardø plays a key role in the maritime safety cooperation with Russia. From its location in Norway's north easternmost corner it is possible to see over the Varanger fjord to Russia's Kola Peninsula. This is the main route for oil tankers from Murmansk to the markets in Europe. Worst-case scenario is a huge tanker accident, followed by massive oil spill and ecological damages along the Arctic coast.- We are working closely with emergency forces and rescue coordination centres. If a tanker gets an engine breakdown, we can immediately see where the nearest tow boat is and send assistance, says Ståle Sveinungsen, head of Vardø VTS.On the large screens on the walls, Ståle Sveinungsen and his fellow officers can see the exact position all maritime traffic within Norwegian economic zone from the south to the maritime border with Russia in ...

Russia says it will start geological oil and gas exploration in one year Russia says it will start geological oil and gas exploration of the promising Barents Sea shelf near Norway in 2012.After reaching a key agreement with Norway over arctic maritime borders last year, Russia will embark on developing large fields in the border zones, Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev told RIA Novosti Thursday."Forty-year-long talks have finished. We can now start working jointly. Norway has already begun seismic surveys in its part of the shelf. Russia plans to begin work in 2012," Trutnev said.Analysts say the West Arctic oil and gas shelf province, which the Russian-Norwegian border agreement runs through, may compensate for falling oil production in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.Forecasts suggest the region of the Barents Sea contains reserves of some 10 billion to 12 billion tons of fuel equivalent.The ecological safety of any drilling in the region and the subsequent transportation of oil and gas would be a top priority for Russia, Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu said.Source: UPI

Melting ice in the Arctic due to global warming has opened the region for exploration Norway said Wednesday it has begun preparations for oil and gas exploration in an uncharted section of the Barents Sea after solving a long-running demarcation row with Russia.'We will start charting the previously disputed area as soon as the demarcation treaty comes into effect,' Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.The foreign ministers of both countries on Tuesday exchanged documents on the new delimitation agreement, earlier approved by the parliaments of both countries. The treaty enters into force July 7.Melting ice in the Arctic due to global warming has opened the region for exploration. The Barents Sea region is believed to host rich oil and gas reserves. There was also potential for new shipping routes.Norway and Russia last year agreed on the demarcation of the area off northern Norway. The talks opened in 1970.Stoltenberg said he envisaged closer cooperation with Russia, both between government agencies and businesses.The Norwegian government has reserved 29 million dollars for seismic tests of the seabed in the Norwegian section of the Barents Sea.The tests were necessary to assess the potential finds in the area, said Ole Borten Moe, minister of petroleum and ...