OSLO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's vast Kashagan oilfield, the world's biggest oil find in decades, is expected torestart production at the end of 2016, Exxon Mobil Production Vice President John Chaplin said on Wednesday.
The oil field is being developed by a consortium whichincludes KazMunaiGas, Exxon Mobil, Eni, RoyalDutch Shell, Total, China's CNPC and Japan's Inpex.
It began production in September 2013 but output was halteda few weeks later after leaks were detected in its pipes.
"Kashagan should start at the end of 2016," Chaplin, who isin charge of production in Europe and the Caspian Sea, toldReuters on the sidelines of an oil conference in Oslo.
"Of course, there are always uncertainties in replacing thepipelines," he said.
Chaplin also said that Norway should provide fiscalincentives for oil companies to continue producing at the end ofan oil field's lifetime.
He also said the European refining sector remained a brightspot in the sector. (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; editing by Alister Doyle andJason Neely)