scholarly journals Geopolitical Risks of Hydrocarbon Development in the Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-127
Author(s):  
Olga P. TRUBITSINA ◽  
◽  
Vladimir N. BASHKIN ◽  

The article is devoted to the issues of geopolitical risks (GPR) in the hydrocarbon development of the Russian Arctic. The authors pay special attention to the analysis of modern geopolitical and geostrategic challenges of the Arctic region development. The article identifies the key geopolitical factors that affect the sustainable development of the Arctic and analyzes the similarities and differences in the geostrategic positions of the Arctic Five. One of the most important factors of the XXI century that determines the alignment and interaction of various geopolitical forces is the struggle for resources. In this regard, an increase in GPR in the Arctic, related to its resource potential, is inevitable. For oil and gas industry facilities, GPR can be transformed into opposite environmental factors in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. The authors focus on such positions of the GPR, which are related to ensuring access and obtaining control rights over the Arctic's hydrocarbon resources from different countries, the uncertainty of the legal status of the Arctic region, and the use of geoecological risks (GER) as manipulative priorities of attention to Russia's actions in the Arctic.

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Olga TRUBITSINA ◽  
Vladimir BASHKIN

The article is devoted to the issues of geopolitical risks (GPR) in the hydrocarbon development of the Russian Arctic. Meanwhile, the authors pay special attention to the analysis of modern geopolitical and geostrategic challenges to the development of the Arctic region. The key geopolitical factors affecting the sustainable development of the Arctic are identified, similarities and differences in the geostrategic priorities of the Arctic Five countries are analyzed. GPR can be transformed into opposite environmental factors of oil and gas industry objects in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-437
Author(s):  
S. Y. Chernitsyna

The article compares the problems of two strategically important regions for Russia — the Caspian region and the Arctic region. Despite the fact that there are some significant geographical and climate differences, the geopolitical situation in the regions is similar. There are almost identical risks in the development of these regions. Special attention is paid to the issue of ecology in the conditions of active oil and gas production. The question concerning the instruments of regulation of interstate relations is sharply raised. International cooperation is essential in addressing key issues in the regions, such as improving socio-economic conditions, energy distribution and border management. In particular, it is necessary to define a regulatory framework that would meet the new realities in the Arctic. As for the international legal status of the Caspian sea, it was settled by the adoption of the Convention following the summit in 2018. The main difference is that the Caspian region was exposed to the anthropogenic factor much earlier. The lessons learned from the work in the Caspian region can be used in the Arctic region, which can reduce some of the risks associated with the interaction of coastal countries.


Author(s):  
Mikhail Gubanov ◽  
Tatiana Nokelaynen ◽  
Ilia Rilskiy

Pipeline transport plays a key role in the infrastructure of the oil and gas complex in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. It is the most efficient type of hydrocarbon transportation and currently dominates in terms of freight traffic in the Russian Arctic. Among the shortcomings of this type of transport, one can single out a very high cost of investment in construction, as well as the threat of damage to the nature of the region. An alternative option for transporting hydrocarbons produced in the Arctic region of Russia is the export of oil, liquefied gas and gas condensate by sea tankers. To solve a number of problems that have arisen during the exploitation of the Arctic hydrocarbon resources, spatial analysis and an integrated cartographic assessment of the current transport situation are necessary. As a result of the research, a series of thematic maps of the transport infrastructure of the oil and gas complex of the Russian Arctic was created (scale 1 : 20 000 000). An integrated mapping method has been implemented that takes into account the environmental, technological, transport and economic characteristics of pipeline transport. Assessment and forecast indicators were developed. Thematic content includes: resource potential of the industry; centers for the extraction, storage and processing of oil and gas; network of trunk pipelines with classification according to the number of branches and the diameter of the pipes; existing and potential hydrocarbons delivery routes; the degree of impact of hazardous natural processes and phenomena on the components of the oil and gas complex. The developed maps make it possible to objectively assess the state of the pipeline transport of hydrocarbons in the Arctic region of Russia and can serve as an essential part of the system for making responsible decisions on modernizing the infrastructure of the oil and gas complex to ensure sustainable development and safe operation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy N. Golubchikov ◽  
Victor I. Kruzhalin ◽  
Aleksandra D. Nikanorova

Tourism is the key factor of human presence in the Arctic region. The number of tourist visits has been growing extensively since the end of XX century. The Arctic region is not regarded only as prospective region for oil and gas industry but now it is also recognized as the region with high potential for tourism development. The research is dedicated to the assessment of the spatial distribution of human presence within the Arctic region on the basis of statistical analysis of population and tourist visits in different parts of the Arctic. Taking into account the uncertainty of regional Arctic borders definition, which are commonly determined in accordance with given purposes and tasks, we assessed the population and tourist visits for the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation as administrative union as well as for the Arctic region as physic-geographical region.The growing number of tourists in the Arctic region influences future development prospects of the region. In 2017 the Arctic region with population of 4.3 million people was visited by 10.2 million tourist. While the favorable environmental conditions of Arctic ecosystems exist, the Arctic region should be considered as the source of nature resources for tourism and various recreational activities. Modern technologies enable the development of travel industry in the region, and therefore the industrial paradigm of “conquer” and “utilization” should be replaced with the axiological paradigm of “Arctic beauty” and recreational resource value.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-396
Author(s):  
A. L. Kharitonov

Many specialists who studied Russian Arctic and subarctic regions consider that the latter should be rich in various minerals, for example, gold, tin, coal, kimberlites and, especially in oil and gas. The purpose of the article is to show the potential of regional geological and geophysical (remote sensing) methods for the study of tectonic and morphological features of the structure of the Arctic region subsoil allowing to conduct a regional study of potential resources of oil and gas in the Arctic shelf areas as well as in the mountainous or swampy Subarctic regions of Eastern Siberia inaccessible for other exploration methods (for example, seismic surveying). This article presents the results of the conducted scientific work, which together with other geological and geophysical methods will make it possible to carry out better aerospace studies of the tectonic structure of the Arctic region. In particular, the article introduces a block diagram of a computer software package for mathematical processing and the geological and geophysical interpretation of remote sensing data obtained as a result of measurements over the Arctic and Subarctic regions. The findings obtained on morphological (concentric) structures of the central type formed as a result of the occurrence of paleo-mantle plumes are compared with independent data on geological and geophysical sections of the earth's crust constructed in the zones where these structures are located. The obtained data on the oil and gas potential of some regions of the Arctic and Subarctic are compared with the results of forecasts made by other researchers and organizations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin

The article is devoted to the issues of environmental ratings as an indicators of the process of geoenvironmental risk (GER) management of Russian oil and gas companies, operating in theArctic. The authors demonstrate the algorithm of GER management model processes and reveal the need to use environmental ratings for the oil and gas industry. Particular attention is given to the issues of rating results of Environmental Responsibility of Oil and Gas companies in Russia that was held in 2014—2017 years. It was conducted by the cooperative initiative by CREON Group and WWF Russia with participation of National Rating Agency. The authors have selected from all Russian oil and gas companies only those who operating in the Arctic region and they have analyzed them. The rating's results show that the leaders are companies whose management pays special attention to gas. They are Sakhalin Energy (Sakhalin-2), Gazprom and Zarubezhneft. The authors point out that the environmental rating of Russian oil and gas companies can serve as an indicator of GER management, as a tool to inform foreign investors about the environmental impact to ensure the ecological safety of the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin

The article is devoted to the consideration of geopolitical challenges for the analysis of geoenvironmental risks (GERs) in the hydrocarbon development of the Arctic territory. Geopolitical risks (GPRs), like GERs, can be transformed into opposite external environment factors of oil and gas industry facilities in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. This is necessary for further development of methodological base of expert methods for GER management in the context of the implementational proposed two-stage model of the GER analysis taking to account GPR for the improvement of effectiveness making decisions to ensure optimal operation of the facility oil and gas industry and minimize the impact on the environment in the geopolitical conditions of the Arctic.The authors declare no conflict of interest


2020 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
Tatiana Chvileva

The Arctic region has a great potential in development of hydrocarbon resources and can play an important role in meeting future global energy needs. In the presented work the specific features of the Arctic hydrocarbon projects are identified. Key needs of oil and gas industry in technology development within the framework of projects of extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the Arctic are revealed. A critical analysis of technological forecasting methods is presented. Problems and prospects of their use in the conditions of the Arctic zones are established. The need for an integrated approach to forecasting the development of industrial systems of the Arctic zone is justified.


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