StatoilHydro signs Shtokman agreement with Gazprom

StatoilHydro has signed a frame agreement with Gazprom to become partner in the Shtokman development, phase 1.

The agreement gives StatoilHydro a 24% equity interest in Shtokman Development Company where Gazprom (51%) and Total (25%) are the two other partners.

Shtokman Development Company will be responsible for planning, financing and constructing the infrastructure necessary for the first phase of the Shtokman development and will own the infrastructure for 25 years from start of commercial production. This includes offshore installations, pipeline to shore and the onshore processing plants for both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and piped gas.

The implementation of the project is subject to a final investment decision in the second half of 2009.

The project planning phase aims at establishing an acceptable technical and commercial basis for the final investment decision, which is expected to take place in the second half of 2009. Until the final investment decision is made, StatoilHydro’s exposure is limited to the company’s share of the cost of planning and studies.

The Shtokman field, located in the Russian part of the Barents Sea, is the world’s largest undeveloped offshore gas field with gas initially in place (GIIP) of around 3,700 billion cubic metres (bcm). The annual production is estimated to be 23.7 bcm for the first phase. The basis for phase 1 includes both LNG and piped gas.