Gazpromneft-Shelf finances environmental monitoring programme for the Atlantic walrus

Scientists undertook investigations into the coastal areas of the Vaigach, Dolgy, Gulyaevskiye Koshki and Matveev islands as well as the continental coast of Pechora Sea, the traditional breeding grounds of the Atlantic walrus, listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (a state document established for documenting rare and endangered species).

PINRO specialists also conducted monitoring (including ichthyological exploration)* at nine monitoring stations,** obtaining necessary water, plankton and benthos samples.*** Detailed analysis of all data collected during PINRO fieldwork will be presented in a year-end ecological report, in May 2015. The purpose of this monitoring is to determine environmental conditions, and to obtain accurate and timely information indicating the current status of the ecosystem.

Ecological monitoring at the Prirazlomnoye field (which runs to a total 744 square kilometres), has been initiated by Gazpromneft-Shelf LLC, and is being undertaken by FREKOM, a company specialising in ecological and industrial safety, engaging leading specialist institutions in its research.

FREKOM Ltd General Director Valentin Minasyan advises that preliminary results of the research show no major fluctuations in the migration and distribution of walruses at the Pechora Sea following the commencement of oil production on the Arctic Shelf. “There has been no major change in the number of animals in comparison with the last two years of monitoring; the walrus’s breeding grounds remain the Dolgy and Matveev islands, as they were before the platform commenced operation. Which confirms the absence of any negative environmental impact from the project.”

Gazpromneft-Shelf General Director Genady Lubin commented: “The results of environmental analysis — including monitoring of the Atlantic walrus in Pechora Sea, in particular — allows us to obtain reliable information on the state of the environment. The Prirazlomnoye platform was designed with the specific conditions of this area in mind, particularly regarding the need to minimise man’s impact on the Arctic natural environment. The results obtained indicate that the project is meeting this objective.”