Although the corrosion of polar sea ice is considered by many to be the foremost indicator of environmental damage, it may also represent the opening the world’s major oil firms have been waiting for, says business intelligence provider GlobalData in a new report.
As the firm’s latest publication* explores, global warming has resulted in a dramatic decrease in Arctic ice cover, revealing highly prized drilling locations in a region estimated to hold nearly 22% of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas resources.
The report continues to highlight the area’s enormous hydrocarbon wealth, including 90 billion barrels (bbls) of oil, 1,669 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, and 44 billion bbls of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs).
Several Arctic nations such as Russia, Canada and Denmark are staking their claim regarding the extended continental shelf and several National Oil Companies (NOCs) have undertaken exploration expeditions in the recently exposed region in preparation for what they expect to be highly fruitful oil and gas production activities.
However, the prospect of further exploiting an area that has already been reshaped in part, both directly and indirectly, by the pursuits of Big Oil will most likely be a concern of environmentalists.
Other than the well-known and environmentally detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels, upstream activities also contribute to the corrosion of sea ice through the release of black carbon emitted from transport ships.
Despite these concerns, major oil companies across Russia, Canada and beyond have been tooling up and forming mutually beneficial partnerships, with the aim of capitalizing on what appears to be highly attractive prospect.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
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Oil and Gas Exploration in the Arctic - Vast, Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources Attract International Oil Companies to Increase Presence in the Region This report highlights the oil and gas exploration potential of the Arctic region, providing details of the key exploration areas, major companies exploring the Arctic and the drivers and challenges of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic.
This report was built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.
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