Rosneft and ExxonMobil have started the contractor selection process for design and engineering work for the LNG project proposed in the Russian Far East, Rosneft said in a news release.

In 2013-2014 Rosneft and ExxonMobil plan to complete design work, including selection of a liquefaction technology and identification of major equipment requirements to perform engineering surveys, develop FEED and Russian Proyekt documentation for the LNG plant, hydro-technical marine facilities and a source gas pipeline, as well as perform EIA, according to the release.

Special attention during the design phase will focus on minimizing environmental impact to the unique ecosystem of the Sakhalin Island and encouraging development of local infrastructure, Rosneft said. A joint team of experts from Rosneft and ExxonMobil will apply best practices from both companies to complete the project in the shortest possible time frame.