On 1 July 2019, Gazprom registered a new long-term license offshore Sakhalin. License ShOM16554NR, valid until 1 July 2049, granted exploration and production rights for the Tsentralno-Pogranichnyy block in the North Sakhalin Basin. Based on the current legislation, license was awarded without an auction meaning that Gazpromâs competitor Rosneft was not applying for the area.  Tsentralno-Pogranichnyy covers 6,320 sq km south of the Kirinskiy block where Gazprom reported three gas discoveries including giant Kirinskoye Yuzhnoye during the last decade. The area encompasses several big structures which need to be confirmed by 3D seismic. Water depth ranges from 0 m at the Sakhalin coast to 300 m in the east.
Gazprom secured rights to the Tsentralno-Pogranichnyy block (licence ShOM16554NR), 6320kmÂ².