The state-run oil giant was last year forced to suspend drilling in the Kara Sea when US exploration partner ExxonMobil pulled out due to sanctions after the pair had made the landmark Universitetskaya-1 discovery with Seadrill-owned harsh-environment rig West Alpha.
A presentation by the Russian Energy Ministry, cited by news agency Interfax on Tuesday, stated exploration work in the area will not resume until 2020 or 2021
This is a significant delay beyond Energy Minister Alexander Novak’s prognosis of “2016 or later” reported earlier this year.
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