Russia Planning to Drill in the Arctic Shelf
Russia has decided to start exploring and developing offshore reserves through the Arctic shelf. Unfortunately, this has been said to be one of the most sensitive and most difficult challenges that gas and oil companies are currently facing. A huge emphasis has been put on environmental protection and overall safety. It has also been said that there may be need of special technologies that would need to be created.
In fact, there are many technological obstacles that will need to be faced. The Arctic shelf, where Russia is hoping to start their drilling, is almost completely locked in ice for about 9 of the 12 months of the year. Because of this, the platforms that will need to be made will have to be able to operate in extremely cold and icy conditions. Tankers that are considered ice class will also need to be made to have this project operate correctly. Another thing that will have to be done is that underground facilities will have to be created, both for the pumping of the oil as well as treatment and refinement.
Though there are many obstacles that face Russia in this process, they feel confident that it will be able to go ahead, fairly soon. You may not want to expect postcards from operation workers quite yet, but as soon as the technological problems have been overcome, Russia may start their exploring and drilling on the Arctic shelf.
It is felt by many that this is coming at a very important time. Though there are concerns about environmental issues, it is believed by many that the process of drilling in this area is of extreme importance. There will be a conference at the end of October where many of these concerns will be voiced and hopefully some of the technology problems will be addressed.