Oil companies are soon to announce which route they prefer for their main export pipeline from Baku.

Before anyone can begin making these fortunes from Caspian oil, however, a decision must be made about where to lay the main export pipeline.

Another hurdle has been Canada's capacity to rapidly increase its export pipelines.

Gazprom said it would bill Ukraine at its asking price for gas taken from the export pipelines while the dispute continues.

Construction began on Canada's first major gas export pipeline.

Nor is it yet known which companies will lose access to the export pipeline so that the three joint ventures can be accommodated.

By July, the payment of taxes will be required if an oil company wants to ship its crude on export pipelines.

Already, the Government has blocked access to the export pipeline for four oil companies that have not paid their taxes.

Turkmenistan has huge reserves of natural gas, but its only export pipeline runs through Russia.

Most of the country's oilfields are in the south, with the only export pipeline running north.