Geopolitical Risks of Hydrocarbon Development in the Russian Arctic

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.

GEOPOLITICAL RISKS OF HYDROCARBON DEVELOPMENT IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC

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.

Problems of unconventional hydrocarbons sources on the example of the domanikites of the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province

The first industrial oil in the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province was obtained in 1929. By now more than 230 hydrocarbon deposits have been explored in the Province. A significant part of these deposits is under development. At the same time, the originally explored total resources have been developed in terms of oil only by 50%, in terms of gas - by about 30%. The remaining unexplored part of the initial total resources is forecast to be located in difficult unconventional bedding conditions, in particular, in the domaniсites of the Upper Devonian period. The so-called shale oil and gas are associated with them. The forecasting, exploration, and development of oil and gas deposits in the domaniсites require new methodological and technological solutions. The article discusses the problems of unconventional hydrocarbon development using the example of the domaniсites of the Timan-Pechora oil and gas Province.