Rosneft takes closer look at northernmost license areas
The Albanovsky area is located on the 80th parallel only 32 km from the coast of the Franz Josef Land.
A research vessel commissioned by Rosneft is starting environmental mapping of three license areas in the Barents Sea. Among them is the Albanovsky area, the second northernmost in the company’s license portfolio.
The 44,736-square-kilometer license area is believed to hold up to 144.2 million tons of oil, 43.3 million of which is extractable, and 1,254.4 billion cubic meters of gas.
Only the Severo-Karsky license in the Kara Sea is located further north.
The research mission also includes studies of the nearby Varneksky and Zapadno-Prinovozemelsky areas, Rosneft informs.
The mapping is conducted in cooperation with the Murmansk Marine Biology Institute, and includes studies of ocean geography, meteorology and hydrology. Seabed samples will also be taken along with water tests and observation of local marine mammals and birds, the company informs.
Rosneft has in the course of summer conducted studies at a number of its Arctic license areas. In July, the company carried out exploration work in the Vostochno-Sibirsky area, a license located off the coast of the New Siberian Islands, the company says. At the same time, researchers conducted air studies at the Khatanga license area.
Those latter studies will allow the company to improve its understanding of the geological structure of the license area and determine areas for upcoming geological exploration, Rosneft informs.
The company has said that it intends to drill an exploration well in the Khatanga area in 2017.
Also Gazprom is reportedly preparing for more mapping in the Arctic waters. The company has announced a 7.5-billion-rubles tender for seismic mapping of two of its Arctic license areas, the Zapadno-Sharapovsky area in the Kara Sea and the Fersmanovsky area in the Barents Sea, oilru.com reports with reference to Prime.ru.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada ponders exceptions to relief well rule for Arctic oil drilling, Alaska Dispatch
Finland: Solar and wind power yield cheapest energy say Finnish experts, Yle News
Greenland: #SavetheArctic… from Greenpeace, Blog by Heather Exner-Pirot
Iceland: From Arctic Circle 2013-2014, a big drop in the price of oil, Blog by Mia Bennett
Norway: How new Barents oil licenses can help build Russia-Norway ties, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: No more licenses on Russian shelf, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Alaska oil advocates urge Obama to leave Arctic drilling options open, Alaska Dispatch News
