Current situation of oil and gas exploration and development in Arctic region

Environmental concerns and debates

The sound pulses produced by airguns used in oil and gas exploration can travel hundreds of kilometers, and in the extremely cold waters of the Arctic, the pulse noise can become even stronger and travel farther, potentially affecting some Arctic mammals such as whales. As a result, oil and gas exploration in the Arctic is constantly being protested by environmental groups and indigenous people. In August 2012, Greenpeace members climbed onto the derrick in an attempt to stop the operation. In September 2013, a group of environmentalists once again tried to stop the drilling, and 30 activists were taken to a Murmansk prison for several weeks. While the campaign has not been successful in blocking the production of oil fields, it has limited the development of oil and gas projects in the Arctic to a certain extent, and relevant departments and companies have to consider the environmental impact when making exploration plans.

However, scientists do not agree that sound waves created by exploration activities will endanger Arctic whales. In the case of whales killed by underwater noise, military sonar was the source of the noise, and military sonar is very different from industrial noise. There is no evidence that industrial noise causes whales to go deaf. Scientific studies have shown that industrial activity does not (at least not yet) affect the biology of whales, but seismic surveys may affect their survival behavior. So far, there is evidence that whales resume their reproductive activity once industrial noise abates. Therefore, short-term industrial noise is unlikely to affect whales' foraging and breeding behavior, but the biological effects of persistent high-frequency noise in a given area are uncertain.

In addition to exploration noise, environmental groups are also concerned about the impact of an oil spill on Arctic life. Environmentalists argue that whales will inevitably come into contact with oil-contaminated water, causing skin, eye and stomach damage. The impact of exploration on Arctic mammals is unclear, but the debate over environmental issues has become polarized.

Challenges and prospects

In order to adapt to the extreme exploration environment in the Arctic, countries and companies have to spend a lot of manpower and material resources on the research and development of new technologies and the maintenance of instruments, so the high cost is the main problem of oil and gas development in the Arctic region. Another risk is environmental. There is not only the potential for harm to animals and oil spills, but also constant pressure from environmental groups and indigenous peoples. Finally, there is the geopolitics of the Arctic, with some arguing that oil produced in the region will come from more politically stable countries than from suppliers in the Middle East. In practice, however, the Arctic is creating its own political problems, thanks to the collective participation of the littoral states and their diverse needs. However, once the current geopolitical issues stabilize, harmonious cooperation in the Arctic will hopefully have a long-term positive impact on the region.

Despite the difficulties, exploration work in the Arctic region is still being carried out. In addition to the five Arctic countries (the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway and Greenland), important oil and gas importers such as Japan, South Korea and India are also actively involved in various ways. With the progress of technology, the increase of market demand for oil and gas resources, and the gradual disappearance of natural barriers to the development of oil and gas resources in the Arctic region, the economic and technical feasibility of oil and gas resources development in the Arctic will be more and more. China should also incorporate the Arctic region into its overseas oil and gas development strategy as soon as possible, and make technical preparations for early entry.