ST. PETERSBURG, August 30 - RAPSI. The Arkhangelsk Regional Commercial Court has set for September 14 its hearing into a 485.73 million ruble ($16.9 million) claim filed by the Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) against Naryanmarneftegaz for environmental pollution.

The court began hearing the case in August.

Rosprirodnadzor issued its order to Naryanmarneftegaz on November 13, 2010.

According to Rosprirodnadzor, Naryanmarneftegaz discharged mineralized oily wastes in the first and second quarters of 2007. Naryanmarneftegaz already paid 1.1 million rubles ($38.3 million) for discharging produced water in July 2010.

Meanwhile, Rosprirodnadzor argues that the company must be fined 486 million rubles, since the produced water falls under the fourth class of hazard.
Naryanmarneftegaz is a joint venture between LUKOIL and ConocoPhillips. It is developing the South-Khylchuyuskoye field in the Nenets Autonomous District. The field was discovered in 1981. Its proved reserves are estimated at over 500 million barrels.