Gazprom eyes deal with Exxon on Sakhalin in 2010

Russia's Gazprom expects to wrap up a deal on gas supplies from the ExxonMobil-led Sakhalin-1 project next year, Gazprom's deputy head told reporters on Monday.

The Russian energy giant has said it needs gas from Sakhalin-1 to feed industrial growth in the Far East.

"I think we will come to an agreement in 2010," Alexander Ananenkov said on the fringes of a ceremony to mark the launch of Russia's new Pacific oil terminal that will allow the world's largest energy producer to service Asian markets.

ExxonMobil has said it is studying all options for selling gas from Sakhalin-1, which is owned by a consortium that also includes Russian oil firm Rosneft, Japan's Itochu and Marubeni and India's ONGC.

Ananenkov said Gazprom wants to buy up to 8 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually from the second stage of Sakhalin-1 development.

He also said the firm will increase estimated gas reserves at Kirinsky field, which is a part of Sakhalin-3 project, to 100 bcm from the current 75.4 bcm estimate. Gazprom is set to commission the field in 2014.