A 2D seismic acquisition program has started in the Kara Sea, said Russia's Rosneft, a partner with ExxonMobil in the area.
The program started 24 July using the research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin. The survey, covering 7000sq km, will take three months and will cover three Rosneft-operated Vostochno-Prinovozemelsky licenses.
The Vostochno-Prinovozemelsky licenses cover 126,000sq km in 40-350m water depth. (120-1000ft). The area has ice cover 270-300 days a year.
Rosneft a 66.7% participating interest in the joint-venture companies aiming to develop Kara Sea and Black Sea is 66.7 %, and ExxonMobil 33.3 %.