Gazprom has narrowed the list of potential partners in developing the Shtokman gas field leaving out U.S. oil giant Chevron. Gazprom is still negotiating with France's Total, ConocoPhillips of the U.S. and Norway's Hydro and Statoil.
Last October, Gazprom made a controversial decision not to have foreign companies as partners. But now it wants to set up a joint operating company, in which Gazprom would have at least 51% stock plus dispose of all the produced gas.