Russian Arctic Petroleum Resources Ressources pétrolières de l’Arctique russe

• Published in: Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies nouvelles
• Main Authors: Zolotukhin A., Gavrilov V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: EDP Sciences 2011
• Subjects: Chemical technology; TP1-1185; Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade; HD9502-9502.5; Arctic; Kara Sea; Kamchatka; Pechora; Sakhalin; Siberia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2011141; https://doaj.org/article/372a00e9a05045568c632034126285ce

The Arctic continental shelf is believed to be the area with the highest unexplored potential for oil and gas as well as for unconventional hydrocarbon resources such as gas hydrates. Despite a common view that the Arctic has plentiful of hydrocarbon resources, there are ongoing debates regarding the potential of this region as a future energy supply base. Driving forces for such discussions are geopolitics, environmental concern, assessment and delineation of Arctic resources, technology available for their successful development and the market demand for energy supply. The Russian part is recognized to be the largest among oil and gas resources owned by Arctic nations. However, scarce information and available geological data create uncertainty regarding a future role of the Russian Arctic as main base of energy supply in the second part of the XXI century. A further uncertainty is the pace at which production from northern areas including the Arctic will be brought onstream – either because of national policy, infrastructure development or investment by the state and the oil companies. These areas embrace those where development has already been started (Offshore Sakhalin, northern Timan Pechora) and those awaiting future involvement, like Barents and Pechora seas, East Siberia, Yamal, Kara Sea and Kamchatka. Offhore production levels are likely to be very important to Russia in mid and long terms, especially as most (if not all) production will go for export and, in the process, open doors to new markets. In this way, offshore production will introduce a new and very significant component to Russia’s export strategy. However, active involvement of the Russian Arctic resources in the global energy supply process needs a detailed analysis and clear understanding of the market potential for Russian gas and oil (required volumes, time frame, transportations routes) and requires close attention of the government to the most important issues that should be in place, like national standards and guidelines for ...