KCA Deutag commercial director Chris Rose said that the company has won a preliminary works award from the Shell-led development consortium Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC).

He said the contract, which should be signed and sealed "before the end of the year", involves the provision of drilling services on the Molikpaq platform for an initial contract duration of seven years beginning this year, plus similar services on the Lunskoye-A and Piltun-B platforms, scheduled to start in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

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