Abstract: Offshore Sakhalin Review

Abstract With its remote geographical location in Far East Russia, Sakhalin is one of the least explored frontiers with high exploration expectations. Sakhalin, Russia's largest island, contains 74 hydrocarbon fields, of which just 12 are located offshore. While exploration commenced in the1920s, it is only since 1992 that foreign investment has led to increased exploration in the region. As Sakhalin is widely recognised as having large reserves of oil, gas and coal, then exploration could be expected to be thriving with numerous players lining up to get a piece of the action. Reality is somewhat different however and as the dust settles from the initial clamour for a piece of the action, I will discuss some of the problems encountered in operating in the region, My presentation will provide a historical overview of exploration activity offshore Sakhalin through to the current day operators and a brief understanding of their activities through 2002. I will look briefly at the main basins and play types in each of the blocks and illustrate them with a few seismic sections where possible. Finally I will look at the PSA and its problems affecting progress of many exploration projects in Sakhalin and alternative approaches being used by some oil companies. Presented at: 2005 South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) Conference, Singapore, 2003