Environmentalists say underwater seismic testing, which uses sound waves, can cause whales to beach and is harmful to marine life in general.
"The decision was made at the sixth session of an advisory panel for the conservation of the grey whale population in the Sea of Okhotsk," the spokeswoman said.
At the meeting, Sakhalin Energy again maintained that the seismic scan, which was initially scheduled for 2009, was safe for whales if properly carried out. However, the company agreed to follow the recommendations of the advisory panel and postpone the research.
The independent advisory panel on whale conservation, comprising scientists from several countries, was established in 2005 by the World Conservation Union on the initiative of Sakhalin Energy.
In December 2006, Russian energy giant Gazprom acquired 50% plus one share in Sakhalin Energy for $7.45 billion. Royal Dutch Shell and Japan's Mitsui and Mitsubishi now hold 27.5%, 12.5% and 10% in the project, respectively.
