BP and Rosneft have begun an indefinite “lull” in drilling off Sakhalin island, BP said on Tuesday as it admitted the exploration programme in the region “hasn’t been the huge success that some thought it might be”.

Elvary Neftegaz, the joint venture owned 51 per cent by Rosneft and 49 per cent by BP which is exploring the Sakhalin area off far east Russia, plans to drill no more wells this year.