Structural changes in the economy of the Northern zone in the modern period

The aim of the work was to study and evaluate structural changes in the economy of the regions of the North at the present stage of their development (in the period from 2015 to 2019). On the basis of the methodology previously developed by the author for assessing structural shifts, twenty types of economic activity were grouped into two large spheres: production and non-production (services), each consisting of four combined industries. For these economic spheres and industries, an assessment of sectoral and then territorial structural shifts in the period 2015–2019 was carried out. It was found that in the structure of the economy of the regions of the North during this period, the vector of development changed towards an increase in the share of the production sector and a decrease in the non-production sector by 4,4 %, whereas in the previous period 2005–2015, the opposite picture was observed. The high rates of development of the production sector in all regions of the North were revealed, while it grew most rapidly in the West Siberian region due to the extensive development of new gas fields and the construction of new largest LNG complex in the North on the Yamal Peninsula. As a result, the share of GRP in the Northern zone increased in the country from 13,2 % in 2015 to 14,5 % in 2019, and the pace of development was outstripping: 144,6 % versus 129,2 % in the Russian Federation. It is noted that the pace and volume of both sectoral and territorial structural shifts in the production sector in almost all regions of the North zone are almost entirely related to both the scale of investments directed to the development of their economy and the current situation for their resources in the world commodity markets.

Permafrost Dynamics and Degradation in Polar Arctic From Satellite Radar Observations, Yamal Peninsula

We investigate permafrost surface features revealed from satellite radar data in the Siberian arctic at the Yamal peninsula. Surface dynamics analysis based on SRTM and TanDEM-X DEMs shows up to 2 m net loss of surface relief between 2000 and 2014 indicating a highly dynamic landscape. Surface features for the past 14 years reflect an increase in small stream channels and a number of new lakes that developed, likely caused by permafrost thaw. We used Sentinel-1 SAR imagery to measure permafrost surface changes. Owing to limited observation data we analyzed only 2 years. The InSAR time-series has detected surface displacements in three distinct spatial locations during 2017 and 2018. At these three locations, 60–120 mm/yr rates of seasonal surface permafrost changes are observed. Spatial location of seasonal ground displacements aligns well with lithology. One of them is located on marine sediments and is linked to anthropogenic impact on permafrost stability. Two other areas are located within alluvial sediments and are at the top of topographic elevated zones. We discuss the influence of the geologic environment and the potential effect of local upwelling of gas. These combined analyses of InSAR time-series with analysis of geomorphic features from DEMs present an important tool for continuous process monitoring of surface dynamics as part of a global warming risk assessment.

Temporal variance of the ice navigation conditions within the Northern Sea Route

Recognition of satellite images, composition of them and vectorization is used in AARI for ice charts production. There is discussed methodology and results of the ice charts processing by means of computer programs, which were elaborated by Dr. Tretyakov in Python. The paper demonstrates results of analysis of temporal variance of ice navigation circumstances within the buffer zone of the marine transport system from the Sabetta Port (the Yamal Peninsula, Russia) up to the Bering Strait. There are considered the variance for April and May from 1998 up to 2020. This intra-annual interval is the one with the heaviest ice circumstances for shipping. We used conditional length of various age and age and form gradations of the sea ice for the route as a whole, as an integral parameter for estimation of the navigation hardships of ice navigation. The conditional length of an ice age (thickness) diapason is result of multiplication of the diapason partial concentration at the length of the route leg with homogeneous ice characteristics. There were produced series of the conditional lengths for each ten-day periods during April and May. Then statistical homogeneity of the series was tested by various methods.

7. The Arctic carbon vault

‘The Arctic carbon vault’ describes the large share of Earth's organic carbon sequestered in the frozen ground and within the shelf sea sediments of the Arctic Ocean. The organic carbon stock of the permafrost is roughly equivalent to half of total global soil carbon. A cold Arctic with extensive permafrost is an effective long-term carbon sink as carbon is safely locked away as long as permafrost is maintained. Giant craters appeared on the Yamal peninsula. The thawing permafrost leads to the formation of thermokarst lakes, which are frozen bodies of water held in subsidence depressions created by the thawing of ground ice. Well-preserved carcasses of extinct ice age beasts, including woolly mammoths and cave bears, have been recovered from the thawing permafrost.

Breeding den selection by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in southern Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Selecting the right location for a den during the breeding season is a type of habitat selection in the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) that is likely to affect its reproductive success. A den’s suitability likely depends on its ability to provide shelter, as well as its proximity to prey resources. Depending on the different relative risks that Arctic foxes may face across their broad circumpolar range, Arctic foxes may place different emphases on selection for shelter and prey resources in different ecosystems. Understanding the different requirements for reproduction under different ecological conditions is highly relevant to conservation efforts in areas where Arctic foxes are threatened by rapid environmental changes. Here, we investigated the relative selection for shelter and prey resources in southern Yamal Peninsula (Russia) using data from 45 dens collected over a 13-year period. Arctic foxes preferred to breed in dens with more den entrances; an indicator of shelter quality. Arctic foxes also preferred dens surrounded by more prey resources (quantified by the amount of river valley habitat), but this result was less conclusive. These results complement the findings reported from other study areas, illustrating that Arctic foxes in ecosystems with diverse predator communities may put emphasis on selection for shelter quality. In less productive ecosystems, Arctic foxes may rather put emphasis on selection for prey resources. As tundra ecosystems become more productive and generalist predators move north, the reproductive requirements and habitat selection of Arctic foxes may change accordingly, depending on the species’ ability to adapt.

Transformation of oil and gas fields based on information technologies

Currently, there is an opportunity to ensure digital transformation in the leading oil and gas companies in Russia. The main task of the transformation is to reduce capital and operating costs and increase production efficiency. The objects of transformation are processes, information, and people. Considering the existing technological and geological constraints for the Arctic fields, it is advisable to ensure the initial implementation of the principles of a digital intelligent field when creating control systems for wells and control production complexes. An important component is the development of an effective decision support system as a tool for calculating forecast tasks that provides strategic and tactical planning when modeling geological and technological processes online. The materials provide the structure of remote management of geographically distributed facilities of PJSC Gazprom, as well as solutions already implemented and confirmed the effectiveness of management for the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field located in the Arctic on the Yamal Peninsula.

Construction of a Multipurpose Exploration Well in the Jurassic Deposits Subsequent Transfer to Production Enabled by Metal Expandable Barrier Installed Behind the Casing

Summary The resource base of the north of the West Siberian oil and gas province is the basis of Russia's energy strategy. Among the northern territories of the province, the Nadym-Purskaya, Pur-Tazovskaya and Yamal oil and gas regions (OGRs) are the leaders in terms of estimated gas reserves (Figure 1). However, the largest deposits of the first two OGRs are in the stage of falling production. Therefore, the main prospects should be associated with the Yamal OGR, which has not yet been put into active operation. It is logical that along with the development of traditional methods of extraction of "dry" natural gas, the government of the Russian Federation has approved a plan for the production of liquefied natural gas based on the fields of the Yamal Peninsula, which is currently being actively implemented by PJSC "NOVATEK". (https://www.novatek.rU/m/business/exploration/)

Comprehensive Assessment and Targeted Approach to the Implementation of the Gas-Lift Method of Operation on the Yamal Peninsula Novy Port Field

As geological environment becomes more complicated, specifics of oil fields with high gas content more demanding, and the Company's requirements for assets development efficiency more stringent, new challenges arise that require application of high-tech approaches and new tools to solve the tasks set. The era of "easy" oil is far behind, and there are no "simple" tasks left, so the key goal of oil companies now is to radically improve efficiency of existing "difficult" fields including development of gas condensate reservoirs and oil rims. The interest in development of new approaches to improve efficiency of the Novoportovskoye field is caused by the huge potential of the asset. Despite the fact that the field was discovered back in 1964, its remaining reserves are estimated at more than 250 million tons of oil and gas condensate and more than 270 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which are concentrated in five reservoirs. The Novoportovskoye field is the northernmost and largest on the Yamal Peninsula, but the complexity of its development and operation is caused not so much by geography and the lack of transport infrastructure but by the presence of a gas cap, low reservoir permeability, the occurrence of underlying water, and high gas content in produced reservoir fluid. The high gas content complicates the production process. The main method of operation in the existing fields of the Yamal Peninsula is artificial lift by electric submersible pumps (ESP) on rental basis. Given the remoteness and isolation of the Arctic region, the high cost of equipment rental, and the low efficiency of ESPs in liquids with high content of dissolved gas, it is only fair to ask a question of whether there is a tool that may allow us to predict operation parameters for different lift methods. The existing models and tools intended to assess behavior of the field are not good enough to fully predict gas breakthrough rates, optimize well operation parameters in case of short-term production forecasting, or select the optimal lift method. In this paper, we described application of an integrated modeling process for a targeted assessment of well operation parameters at the Novoportovskoye field. Also, in the framework of this paper, we performed a technical and economic estimation of the options under consideration, and formulated some recommendations to improve efficiency of development and operation of the field under the impact of the existing complicating factors.

FEATURES OF THE RADIAL GROWTH OF SHRUBS BETULA NANA AND SALIX LANATA ON VARIOUS LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS IN THE SOUTHERN TUNDRA OF YAMAL

Tundra communities are widespread in the northern part of Russia, in particular on the Yamal Peninsula in the registration of Siberia, where research was carried out. For the study, we used plants of the species Betula nana and Salix lanata, these species are among the most common in the southern tundra of Yamal. Sampling sites were located on various morphological elements of the relief with the identification of patterns in the distribution of natural resources that determine the radial growth of the trunks of Betula nana and Salix lanata. At each site, at least 30 samples of each species were taken to obtain a sufficient sample. The sampling sites were located on different morpholog-ical parts of the relief. In the course of the study, general growth trends are highlighted, as well as absolute values of growth for 5 years. This age corresponds to the minimum age of the selected plants. As a result, data were obtained on the distribution and growth characteristics of Betula nana and Salix lanata shrubs along the relief profile; the most and least favourable areas of the profile for the growth of shrubs were identified. To compare the general trends of radial growth, a faster slowdown in growth was found in Betula nana. In addition, it was found that the species Salix lanata has a stronger effect on mechanical impact (winter road).