16-09-08 The Shtokman and Prirazlomnoe fields in the Barents Sea will be in full production in 25-30 years, Deputy Director of the Russian Arctic and Antarctica Research Institute says.
Aleksandr Danilov says he expects the two fields, the first ever on the northern Russian shelf, will be in full-scale production in 25-30 years. He admits however that there are no international experiences from similar offshore projects, and that there is a danger of damaging the vulnerable Arctic climate.

He also confirms that his institute has completed studies on ice conditions in the area of the Prirazlomnoe oil field and that similar studies of the Shtokman field are about to be completed. The studies are financed by field license holder Gazprom.
Mr Danilov, deputy research leader of the institute, a unit under the Federal Service of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, believes however that the current major interest in Arctic energy resources could cool as fuel prices drop.

Mr Danilov also regrets that Russia does currently not have any programs on the study of Arctic climate change.
"Concerning the collection of information and monitoring we have a satisfactory situation, but the modelling and prognosis of future situations are unfortunately badly financed," he says.