OJSC “Gazprom” will be developing the large Shtokman  field jointly with StatoilHydro (Norway) and Total (France). According to analysts, Total is still demonstrating loyalty to the Russian gas monopoly, but StatoilHydro says experienced Norwegian contractors should be hired for the project. Representatives of StatoilHydro believe that timely commissioning of the Shtokman project would depend on the choice of contractors. According to the Norwegian magazine Scandinavian Oil and Gas Magazine,  StatoilHydro might withdraw from  Shtokman Development AG before the final decision is taken in late 2009. The thing is that the criteria for selection of Russian and foreign contractors have so far not been determined.  Benedict Henriksen, StatoilHydro's industrial relations boss in Russia, said, “The project might not be so good after all, and its financial structure unacceptable”. Among engineering contractors in Shtokman phase I (about $15 billion) there are no Norwegian contractors. Only Russian, French and English companies have been selected. According to analysts, the contractor problem will continue to be the main problem throughout the period of Shtokman project implementation.  Each participant in Shtokman Development AG would be trying to give reasons for preference of his own contractors, and Gazprom might simply withdraw from the project due to increased costs, thus driving the project to the verge of failure. These issues should not be underestimated, as it was the contractor problem that caused the extension of commissioning deadline and budget deficit of the East Siberian oil pipeline project.