MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti) – Russia can continue the drilling the Kara Sea even if the US oil company ExxonMobil drops out the project, Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov told reporters Monday.
There are enough Russian oil rigs to continue the drilling in the Kara Sea, where significant discoveries of petroleum and natural gas have been made, according to the official.
"In total, we have around eight exclusively Russian [oil platforms]," including Severnoye Siyanie and Polyarnaya Zvezda rigs which are capable to operate in difficult ice conditions, Molodtsov said.
In August 2013, Russian oil giant Rosneft and ExxonMobil's joint venture company Karmorneftegaz began drilling at Universitetskaya-1, Russia's northernmost well, using the West Alpha rig. The drilling was scheduled to finish in 70 days, but American companies should cease all operations with blacklisted Russian companies, including Rosneft, due to the sanctions against Russia introduced by the US.
Earlier, ExxonMobil said it would assess the impact that Western sanctions against Russia may have on its cooperation with Rosneft.
