Abstract
The Russian sector of the Arctic shelf to the east of the Kara Sea has been very poorly studied by seismic exploration and drilling. It is conditioned by several causes, one of which is the short ice-free period in combination with the remoteness from the shore bases, which significantly hampers operations making them extremely expensive and resource-consuming. The development of natural resources in conditions specific to the Kara Sea and to the east of it is restricted by the depths of the use of ice-resistant platforms and remoteness from the shore bases for subsea production systems. Various experts consider the perspective solutions of the implementation of subsea manned and unmanned drilling and production systems as concepts. At the same time, the existing technologies and the deep drilling technique are creatively reconsidered; the conclusion regarding the inapplicability of the currently used solutions for subsea wellhead drilling has been made. A specific focus has been made on the safety of the future oil and gas production facilities in the Arctic, considering both the operation of highly hazardous and complex manned underwater engineering facilities and the current strained geopolitical situation and the threats of terrorism. It is supposed that testing of perspective engineering solutions and technologies will be more efficient not only in conditions of plant testing laboratories and centers but also at the test site with maximally realistic conditions of the future operation. The analysis of potential test sites in accordance with selected criteria has chosen the Murmansk gas field in the southeast part of the Barents Sea as a prospective facility. Due to the large scale and complexity of the long-term challenge (20–30 years), a conclusion is made about the role of the state as an initiator and coordinator of the project involving the oil and gas companies concerned (Rosneft, Gazprom), scientific centers, and equipment manufacturers.
Published Version
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