A Kaliningrad-focused subsidiary of Russia’s Lukoil has been granted the right to explore for oil and gas in the Russian sector of the Baltic Sea, Offshore Engineer reported. The area includes the D33 oil field, discovered in 2015 using a Russian-made jackup drilling rig, according to Lukoil. D33 contains recoverable oil reserves of 21.2m tons, or 151.4mboe, according to a Lukoil statement cited by RigZone.

Meanwhile, Lukoil has began filling a pipeline destined for its export terminal in the Baltic Sea port of Vysotsk with ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD), two industry sources told Reuters. Lukoil spokesman did not return calls seeking a comment. Sources were not aware when first tanker with ULSD may leave Vysotsk.

Kaliningrad is a Russia-controlled enclave between Poland and Lithuania, with coastline along the Baltic Sea. According to Lukoil magazine, OilRu, Lukoil operates the Kravtsovskoye field in the Baltic Sea, discovered in 1983, 22km west of the Curonian Spit. The collapse of the Soviet Union delayed the field’s development, but it was revived in 1995 under Lukoil-Kaliningradmorneft and oil production started in June 2004, using a fixed ice-resistant platform (D-6), designed and built in  Russia.