Academician Mikhail Epov: the Arctic is our riches

The words of the great Russian scientist Mikhail Vasilevich Lomonosov about what Russia will grow, remain actual and to this day. Moreover, they get the increasing importance.

And it is no mere chance that the venerable American political scientists like Zbigniev Brzezinski regularly throw in the public opinion that the riches of Siberia and the North of Russia actually are like as property of all planet and consequently all planet (read the USA and their allies) should produce these resources.

Why is such attention? Let’s get acquainted with the estimations of experts. For example, the geological service of the USA considers that at least a quarter of all oil and gas resources of a planet are related to the Arctic. They are estimated in such scales: billion of oil barrels and quadrillion of gas cubic meters. The foreign researchers give also the more exact estimations: the oil riches of the Arctic are estimated approximately in ten billions tons and these are thirteen percent of undiscovered world's reserves. As to natural gas, so its stocks are basically concentrated at the Russian coast as opposed to the oil. And the general estimation is 1550 trillion cubic meters.

Naturally we are interested what stocks Russia owns first of all. The total cost of oil and gas resources in the Russian Arctic regions is to 20 trillion dollars according to the estimation of experts. But at the same time, the cost of stocks of prospected resources is only about 2 trillion dollars. The conclusion is obvious: natural riches still wait for development.
Recently the academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Epov who headed the Institute of geophysics and since 2007 is the director of A.A. Trofimuk Institute of oil and gas geology and geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, has told that the Siberian scientists have made the analysis of stocks and resources of hydrocarbon raw materials. The work is presented the government of Russia and contains a number of forecasts.

So, a word is given to academician Mikhail Epov:

- Our institute do the field works from the southern coast of Arctic ocean and to Altai, Sayan Mountains and Baikal. We work with the majority of transnational oil corporations and, certainly, with "Gazprom".
So happens that for the last years the Arctic became one of the basic objects for us. Do you know that the basic gas deposits are concentrated in the north of Western Siberia, on peninsula Yamal. The gas workers live in Urengoy, Nadym, Yamburg who actually provide with gas all central Russia and Europe. We work very closely with them. For last year I was in Salekhard and Nadym for six or seven times. Recently there was a meeting with the administration of "Gazpromdobychaurengoy". Also I have visited the international gas forum in New Urengoy which was very representative. Basically the problems of transportation and gas processing were discussed there.

The greatest problem is that the pure methane is produced basically from the operating deposits; now it is already taken out and the nearest perspective is other. The share of gas of the difficult structure containing ethane, propane and butane will be increased. While in the north there are no capacities for division of gas into these components.
I think that there is a big field of activity for a science here. So last year we have organized the travelling session of presidium of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science in Nadym where there is the largest of operating deposits, namely Medvezhe. Also Bovanenkovsky deposit will be put into operation. Now we prepare the program of joint activity according to the results of work. The tasks are extremely difficult there: even the large firm can't solve them. Here it is necessary to unite a considerable quantity of scientific forces, designers. To pay attention to everything, up to conditions of residing of the northerners which are extreme to the point.

Generally speaking, the role of a science which can prolong the life of deposits is the key. We are engaged in it much now. Therefore the contacts with the state corporation "Gazprom" are very diverse and they are at the most different level. As it is known "Gazprom" has bought one of the largest gas deposits, namely Kovytkinsky. There are many problems there. Also they are connected with that gas contains much helium. The science will help to solve this problem.
I want to say that from the geological prospecting to investments is enough big way. And once again I want to underline that our basic interests are connected with the Arctic areas. Now the oil and gas production isn't supposed here but we should know what stocks we have. It is necessary, because all economic calculations including investment will be only after founding out what exactly it has. And our task is to state the estimation to these stocks from the point of view of geology.

For example, there are bitumens in the north of Yakutia. It is absolutely clearly that nobody will develop them now but 40—50 years and may be thirty years pass and they will be the most important source of hydrocarbon raw materials. If the large companies don't know, where there are these sources they can't define the strategy of the development. That is, it is a question of work for the future.

Earlier the state was engaged in it – it gave much money for the geological prospecting. And today the stocks of those deposits which have been opened 30-40 years ago are developed. That is, here is a time log between geological prospecting and investments into concrete extraction. Let’s have a look at Bovanenkovsky deposit – it will go into operation from 2015 to 2020 years. Here the geological prospecting is already spent. But also its development will demand huge investments in deserted area with an extreme climate.

In general, the concept of a deposit is purely economic. Here there are any deposits of oil – they can be developed at one price and then it will be a deposit; and if the price will fall, so it would be unprofitable to develop. We have a geological estimation of resources. And once again I will repeat that there is a big field of activity in our Arctic areas for a science.