Ecological Violations Halt Sakhalin-2 Work

Work was stopped at Royal Dutch Shell’s US$20-billion oil and gas project off Russia’s Pacific coast after ecological authorities on Thursday said they had revoked 12 licenses for the project.

Violations of water legislation at Sakhalin-2 led to the temporary withdrawal of the licenses, all for water use, Russia’s Natural Resources Ministry said in a statement.

Startstroi, general contractor for the project, was given two
months to fix the violations, after which the licenses would be annulled, the statement said.

The ministry said the licenses were withdrawn after pipe-laying work violated parts of Russia’s Water Code. It also cited earlier ecological violations at the Sakhalin Island development.

Rigzone