Russia’s mining companies are showing that they are eager to work with foreign-based partners and suppliers, especially those from the U.S.

Harsh northern climates and other geographic similarities provide companies with northern experience, such as companies working in Alaska, a competitive edge. The overwhelming bulk of mineral extraction takes place in regions where temperatures are well below zero for most of the year.

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Dewa Maru, a Japanese liquefied natural gas carrier, delivered a third shipment of LNG to the Sakhalin II liquefaction plant to help with startup preparations at the plant. The ship was also the first foreign vessel to moor at the Prigorodnoye seaport after the port was opened to foreign vessels by a May 6 federal government decree.
Pipelines that would deliver gas from producing fields in offshore areas in northern Sakhalin are under construction and nearing completion, but the use of imported liquefied gas to test the operating systems of the LNG plant will accelerate the plant’s startup so that it will be ready to operate when the pipelines are completed.

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Exxon Neftegas Ltd., operator of the Sakhalin I project, is moving ahead with development planning for the Odoptu and Arkutun-Dagi fields off Sakhalin’s northeast coast. The company is engaged in pipeline route assessment for Odoptu and reconnaissance work for Arkutun-Dagi.

Exxon Neftegas told Sakhalin Oblast officials the company is looking at sites for platform foundation construction for Arkutun-Dagi. The platform would be installed at a location approximately 25 kilometers off the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island in the Sakhalin I project area.

Alexander Khoroshavin, governor of Sakhalin Oblast, says he is hoping the foundation might be constructed at the port of Khlmsk.

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Sakhalin Energy Investment Co., manager of the Sakhalin II project, has taken special precautions with pipeline crossings of fault areas to insure safety.
In a description of the project and the technology used, SEIC said the pipelines were designed to stringent criteria enabling them to withstand a ground rupture caused only by a very significant earthquake. Crossing 19 active seismic faults during the installation of Sakhalin Energy’s onshore pipelines presents extraordinary challenges. Five of the fault crossings have already been completed successfully, Sakhalin Energy said.

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Anna Petyuk, from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, works in business support services for CH2MHill in Anchorage, Alaska. Petyuk is currently finishing her master’s of business administration at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has already completed a bachelor’s degree in finance at UAA.

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