Oil export begins from new Sakhalin terminal
Offshore staff
YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Russia -- Sakhalin Energy has begun year-round oil export from its new
terminal. The terminal is located in Aniva Bay in the south of Sakhalin and forms part of the Prigorodnoye
port, which was purpose built for the year-round export of oil and LNG.
The first cargo is oil from Molikpaq, Sakhalin Energy's first platform. Later this month, the PiltunAstokhskoye-B platform will also begin sending oil into the system. Gas condensate from the third platform
in the Lunskoye gas field will further boost production in the coming weeks, the company says.
Sakhalin Energy has produced over 100 MMbbl of the Vityaz crude since 1999. Oil has been exported
through an offshore facility, which limited production to about six months of the ice-free season.
Year-round oil production has become possible due to the commissioning of the TransSakhalin oil and gas
pipeline system. The system connects three offshore platforms in the northeast with the new terminal and
port in Aniva Bay in the south of the Island.
The oil is exported through a tanker loading unit which is installed 4.5 km (2.8 mi) offshore in Aniva Bay
and is connected to the export terminal by an undersea pipeline. In the winter of 2008/2009, oil will be
delivered to customers by two specialized tankers, Governor Farkhutdinov and Sakhalin Island.
12/16/2008
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