Russia’s largest independent natural gas producer Novatek, through its Arctic LNG 3 unit, started drilling the first well at the North-Obskiy license area located in the shallow waters of the Ob Bay.

The initial well is drilled using Gazprom flot’s jack-up floating drilling rig Amazon, the company said in a statement.

According to Leonid Mikhelson, Novatek’s head, the license area is in close proximity to the exit from the Ob Bay in its Northern part, which provides the convenient passage of vessels and requires no approach channel.

“Arctic LNG 3 potentially represents the next stage in implementing Novatek’s development strategy to increase LNG production in the Russian Arctic region,” Mikhelson said.

The company added that all waste products from the drilling process are collected and transported 125 km to the Sabetta onshore base.