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Kara-Summer 2014 Arctic Field Expedition Started
31 July 2014
The research and development expedition to investigate ice and metocean conditions in the Russian arctic organized by The Arctic Research and Design Center (the Rosneft and ExxonMobil JV) with the support of Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute experts has started in the White sea.
Scientific research vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov departed the Arkhangelsk port to move along the route from the Kara Sea to the Chukchee Sea, virtually along the whole of the Russian Arctic coast. The comprehensive research expedition will last for 57 days. It will involve experts of Roshydromet, All-Russian Research Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean named after academician Igor Gramberg and Institute of Geography of the Russsian Academy of Sciences. During the expedition, scientists will explore the territory of several Rosneft license blocks in the Laptev Sea, the Kara Sea, the East Siberian Sea, and the Chukchee Sea.
Comprehensive investigations involve meteorological, hydrological, glaciological, volcanological and geochemical works. It is expected to launch three modern meteorological observing stations, and 16 buoy-based stations. Experts will study currents, water mass distributions, and explore variability of temperature. There will be installed ofsensors on icebergs to constantly monitor their coordinates and drift. Scientists expect to explore glaciers at the archipelagoes of Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya, as well as glaciers and volcanoes on the De Long Islands. There will be carried out advance geochemical survey for detection of shows of oil and gas in the Laptev Sea and the Chukchee Sea. Equipment and technologies of the expedition comply with the highest international standard.
Special attention will be paid to biological studies, including monitoring of marine mammals and birds. There will be studies of polar bears. Zoologist experts expect to obtain data on distribution of polar bears in the areas of interest, put collars with satellite sensors on adult polar bears, and then monitor their migration. It is also expected to subsequently carry out biological studies to estimate influence of environmental changes on polar bears.
All the works will be carried out considering exclusive standards regarding ecological and industrial security. Before the expedition started an additional audit of Akademik Tryoshnikov vessel compliant international IMCA standards has been conducted.
Notes for Editors:
Rosneft holds 46 licenses for offshore oil and gas exploration and production in the Russian Federation and is the largest Russian offshore subsoil user, its resources amounting to 42.3 billion tons oil equivalent. The Russian Arctic sedimentation basins are comparable with the world’s largest oil and gas regions in their total oil and gas potential.
In view of the hard working conditions in the northern seas, Rosneft intends to use unique technologies and equipment, which will give a powerful boost to development of Russian industry. Company investments in the Arctic shelf program will amount to about 400 billion dollars over 20 years, and multiplicative effect will exceed this amount more than 7 times.
The company has already conducted a number of research expeditions in its offshore Arctic license areas. In August 2013 alone, those involved 13 various class vessels, 3 aircraft, a number of unmanned drones, subsea and above-water recording stations, satellite observation systems, ROVs. Leading Russian and international research and design organizations participated in the studies.
Rosneft Information Division
Tel.: + 7 (499) 517-88-97
July 31, 2014