OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2013. Rosneft jointly with the RosHydroMet Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute starts the large-scale program for comprehensive studies of the Kara Sea shelf as part of Kara Sea Summer 2013 Marine Expedition. The Expedition is scheduled for July 12.

Full-scale development of the Arctic offshore fields is one of the key priorities in Rosneft's business activity. The Company has already commenced practical implementation of the projects: since 2012 Rosneft runs search and exploration at the license areas of East Prinovozemelsky 1 and 2 (the Kara Sea), and in July 2013 the Company began field seismic survey at the license areas of Fedynsky and Central Barentsevsky (the Barents Sea). The Company's geological exploration is significantly ahead of the license agreements schedule.

During the Kara Sea Summer 2013 Marine Expedition meteorological stations will be installed at the coasts of Novaya Zemlya archipelago, satellite monitoring of icebergs will be completed for the area and independent parametric buoys to monitor the ice drift and settlement will be launched. The data will be required for assessment of the outdoor environment influence upon the projected marine facilities to be used for development of the Eastern Prinovozemelsky license areas.