18.10.2011 Dear readers!
Nikolay Pryanishnikov (President, Microsoft Russia)

The importance of oil and gas industry cannot be undervalued. Energy is always needed. Oil and gas sector is one of the fastest growing industries for Microsoft, in more than 70 countries.

18.10.2011 Russia's offshore: future development prospects and challenges
Aleksandr G. Ananenkov

"The country's offshore potential is driven by its huge territory – over 6 million square kilometres or about one fourth of total World Ocean area – and it is therefore strategically focal for Russia.

18.10.2011 Offshore oil and gas production: global and Russian trends
A.N. Dmitriyevsky and V.I. Bogoyavlensky (IPNG RAS)

This paper summarises experience to date with offshore oil and gas development in Russia, the Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic regions, as well as global and Russian offshore production trends. It also addresses the most viable options for Russia’s offshore development.

19.10.2011 Central Arctic sedimentary basin’s oil and gas potential
A.M. Brekhuntsov, I. I. Nesterov, and L.A. Nechiporuk (Siberian Science and Analytics Centre)

Central Arctic region’s potential resource base was estimated at over 100 billion toil equivalent. However, similar assessments for Gydan Peninsula, Ust-Yenisei region, and North Kara Basin – given their exploration coverage over the past 5-to-7 years – are believed to be largely understated.

19.10.2011 Oil and gas presence in Jurassic plays and pre-Jurassic prospects in Ob-Tazov Bay and western Yamal offshore
B.A. Nikitin and A.D. Dzyublo (Gubkin Oil & Gas University), V.A. Kholodilov and M.A. Tsemkalo (Gazflot)

Wider geological and geophysical assessments of hydrocarbon resources which are 3,500 m or deeper are believed critical today.

19.10.2011 Offshore oil and gas development in Russia’s Western Arctic sector: geodynamic risks and security
N.N. Melnikov and A.I. Kalashnik (Kola Science Centre’s Mining Institute, RAS)

The authors address conceptual approaches to geodynamic risks and security in offshore oil and gas fields. Geodynamic monitoring is believed central for geodynamic security as it offers early identification of critical play deformations to make timely decisions which help avoid potential emergencies and disasters.

19.10.2011 Nuclear power generation to support subsea/subglacial oil and gas production in Arctic shelf environment
E.P. Velikhov and V.P. Kuznetsov (Kurchatov Institute); V.A. Kravchenko, A.P. Ilyushkin, S.A. Lavkovsky, and A.V. Lebedev (KIT); and D.A. Mirzoyev (TsKBN Gazprom)

Russian scientists and the industry have many-year operating experience with mobile nuclear power generators.

19.10.2011 Gazprom’s key exploration activities in Kamchatka Peninsula: West Kamchatka offshore and North Kolpakovskoye field
S.M. Karnaukhov (Gazprom), I.A. Zinchenko, V.S. Kovalenko, N.N. Kirsanov, and K.A. Polozkov (Gazprom Neft Shelf)

The paper highlights oil and gas development prospects in West Kamchatka offshore and North Kolpakovskoye field.

19.10.2011 Arctic Shelf development challenges: a comprehensive security framework
N.I. Burdakov, A.N. Chernoplekov, and V.A. Trifonov (Gas Industry Environmental and Analytic Centre); A.V. Gosteva (Technologies: Analysis and Management)

This paper documents the key factors which appear to exclude any opportunity for conventional facility design, technical, and management solutions initially assumed feasible for Arctic development.