1.   Because they clog Russian pipelines built to transport conventional gas, they have often been treated more as a nuisance than a resource.

2.   Almost all oil produced in the Caspian region that is sold on international markets now moves through the Russian pipeline system.

3.   But to avoid a direct confrontation with Moscow, the group decided to ship some initial production through an existing Russian pipeline, the diplomats said.

4.   It wants to reduce Western dependence on Persian Gulf pipelines and to reduce the reliance of the newly independent Caspian states on Russian pipelines.

5.   Mayer added that such a deal might help alleviate U.S. government concerns about having oil flowing through Russian pipelines.

6.   Russia has complained for years that Ukraine siphons off gas bound for Western Europe from Russian pipelines crossing its territory.

7.   The Karachaganak project faces determined resistance from Gazprom, the operator of the Russian pipeline Texaco and its partners would like to use.

8.   The Russian pipeline will travel through the war-torn region of Chechnya.

9.   The Russian pipeline would have to be refurbished to make way for crude oil from the Caspian and new pumping stations would have to be installed.

10.   Theft of oil from the Russian pipeline, robberies, kidnapping, ambushes and ransom seem to be the only viable industries.