Russia’s Rosneft Oil Company has been implementing a comprehensive Arctic research programme since 2012. Over this period, the Company has organised and conducted over 40 scientific expeditions together with the country's leading scientific organisations. Specialists implement projects in geology, oceanology and meteorology, as well as study glaciers and populations of rare animal and bird species. The project has already covered all seas of the Russian Arctic.

Meteorological data obtained during the expeditions make it possible to create mathematical models allowing to make forecasts of ice conditions for future periods. In turn, the study of Arctic bioindicators, namely walruses, polar bears, wild reindeer and ivory gulls, allows scientists to draw conclusions about the state of the region's environment and ecosystems.

In mid-January, Rosneft's 50th anniversary research expedition was launched in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, one of Russia’s Arctic regions. Its purpose is to determine the ice and hydrometeorological conditions of one of the key facilities of the Vostok Oil project – the Sever Bay port [Bukhta Sever port]. The oil terminal at the Sever Bay port is a strategically important facility which is to ensure the handling of oil from Vostok Oil fields via the Northern Sea Route.

Vostok Oil is the largest investment project in the global oil and gas industry. It includes 52 licences in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, which is also Russia’s Arctic region. Overall, there are 13 oil and gas fields located in these areas.

As part of the current expedition, scientists study ice formation processes, measure ice strength, temperature and drift dynamics, as well as the speed and directions of subglacial currents. Satellite monitoring of ice conditions will be carried out throughout the expedition.

The data obtained will help create a safe and efficient hydrocarbon transport system in the northern part of the Yenisei Gulf and in the Sever Bay water area.

Despite numerous expeditions organised by Rosneft, the Arctic is still one of the most understudied regions of the Earth, especially in the central part of the Arctic Ocean. Its research is extremely important for the global science.

Source: The Russian National Arctic Research and Education Consortium

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