Sakhalin-I to begin production

India8217;s share in gas production would be 5-8 million metric standard cubic metres per day and New Delhi would also be entitled to 20 per cent of the crude oil production. Aiyar also discussed the New Exploration Licencing Policy NELP the with Alexei Miller, chairman of Gazprom. Apart from inviting Gazprom to participate in NELP V, which is expected in January, 2005, the minister also expressed his desire that the MoU between Gazprom and GAIL be renewed. The MoU expires this month, sources said. The petroleum minister also requested Gazprom to step up its operations in the block in which it had participated with GAIL in NELP I.

Glen waller, vice-president external affairs of Exxonmobil, in the presentation stated that crude oil production from the fields will rise to 250,000 barrels per day by the first quarter of 2007, official sources said. Besides Exxonmobil and OVL, Sodeco of Japan and Russian national oil firm Rosnest are partners in the project.