Contractors aiming to help Russia develop the changing Shtokman project will be treated to “fair market contractors” but must help meet “a very tight schedule” still facing technology shortfalls, the project’s Russian manager told ONS 2008 conference-goers.

“We have no experience and no example in our gas experience,” said Sevmorneftegaz general director, Yuri Komarov.

He said the project will open the complicated offshore arctic to other large offshore projects and offered a unique reference for contractors.

Kormorov confirmed the cost of the $15 billion project “could change by construction time”. The Shtokman Development Co. — owned by Gazprom, Total and StatoilHydro — has been vetting suppliers for nearly a decade, and least one Shtokman partner has confirmed for Scandoil.com that the haul of contractors beyond the design stage could alter the project cost.

Another potential cost spike identified by Komorov lies in the ability of three floating production platforms to “disconnect and connect” in the event of million-tonne icebergs.

“The possibility of large ice bergs cannot be discounted, and the only disconnect and connect system available in the world today is too small for Shtokman,” Komorov said.

Scandoil.com affiliate _Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine reported the “re-connect” technology gap at Shtokman early in 2008.

Sevmorneftegaz, meanwhile, is still looking to build 16 ice-class carriers for liquefied natural gas.

Shtokman Phase 1 will produce 70 million cubic feet per day, before ramping up to 200 MMcfd.

ws@scandoil.com

Tags: Gazprom, Gazprom OAO, Sevmorneftegas, Shtokman, Shtokman field