Russia claims to have found huge oil reserves in Antarctica; UK feels it could mean a complete new ball game

Tuesday, May 14th 2024 - 10:26 UTC

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The House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) held a special session on Russian oil exploration in the polar region, following on claims that the Rosgeo oil exploration company had reported that its research vessel Alexander Karpinsky has completed a comprehensive subsurface geological survey, mapping very promising oil and gas prospects on the Antarctic oil shelves. Read full article

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FortHay
This is a misleading article in several ways. MSN also headlined 'finding huge reserves'. To start, the accompanying image is of some floating or semi-sub drilling rig, not the vessel Alexander Karpinsky, which looks like this: https://gdb.voanews.com/09320000-0a00-0242-82ec-08db03ae9458_w650_r0_s.jpg
Second, seismic surveys are only the first step in identifying 'potential' (key adjective) horizons for drilling. While it is not unlikely that the Antarctic continent has reserves of hydrocarbons, only actual exploratory drilling can prove that. Seismic features showing trapped underground liquids are unable to differentiate between water and oil, although an anomaly with a gas cap will show up clearly. Until and unless the world's governments agree to modify the Antarctic treaty, Russia is quite unable to unilaterally drill or produce there. For that, a stable and reliable air and naval base, such as Stanley (mmh) is needed.
May 14th, 2024 - 05:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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notlurking
Article is to make Russia look bad...the big bad wolf waiting to take more oil to their gas station...lol
May 14th, 2024 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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