Comparative analysis of the possible development concepts of the North Wrangel license area based on Arctic best available technologies

Abstract

Problem statement and objective Russia has one of the world’s highest mineral and raw materials potential. Current status of the oil and gas recoverable resources in Russia allows maintaining the current level of production. However, according to the Energy Strategy of Russia for the period up to 2035, the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources in the seas of the Arctic Ocean will be of the highest priority due to unavoidable production decline. Currently, there is no comprehensive data about the Arctic, so this fact imposes certain restrictions on field development planning and conceptual studies. In particular, this is due to lack of infrastructure in the region as a whole, and especially in the areas that are not enough industrially explored such as the East Siberian Sea, which makes it hard to collect sufficient data for detailed analysis. The objective of the master’s thesis is to develop the basis, which will enable the industry professionals to narrow further detailed conceptual analysis that can be performed as soon as enough data is available. This basis was created by: - determining the status of technology for extreme Arctic and ranking various best practices applicable for the East Siberian Sea; - analyzing existing data on environmental conditions; - calculating possible environmental impacts on the structures; - identifying limiting factors and challenges; - developing a new approach to conceptual analysis held in lack-of-data conditions and based on a comparative analysis of environmental conditions of similar regions; Scope of work Starting with review of currently acknowledged challenges in the Arctic region, the project comprehensively analyzes environmental conditions of the East Siberian Sea (the North Wrangel license area) and identifies key limiting factors associated with its development. Following, environmental loads on a structure are estimated in order to demonstrate the loads of what range could the structure experience being installed in the area. As a result of this assessment, status of technology for extreme Arctic conditions is considered in order to verify applicability of existing technical and technological solutions for the operations in the license area. Being one of the core aspects of the thesis, possible development concepts study is performed using the analytical mechanism of the aggregated parameters. CAPEX estimates are also provided in the project.