The research revealed that a least 50 million barrels of natural gas and oil have accumulation underneath the arctic seabed. As well, the North American Arctic contains pockets ofuranium, copper, nickel, iron, natural gas, and oil. The Arctic has a long history of industrial activities related to oil and natural gas resources extraction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. "[39], China has argued for governance rights in the region, arguing that it is a "near Arctic" country and is affected by the climate effects of the region. to stop deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, Sacked teacher vows to defend 20 years of absence, 'The Hajj is my dream but I'm shocked by the cost', South Koreans become younger under new law, Trump countersues E Jean Carroll for defamation, NYC's plan to slice pizza emissions causes backlash, Actor Julian Sands confirmed dead after remains identified, Anger in Paris after police kill teen in traffic stop. An estimated one-fifth offreshwater and several ofthe world's largest rivers are found there. In some countries, the Arctic became one of the major oil and natural . Throughout the year, temperatures can span a wide range. Currently, the region produces about one tenth of the world's oil and a quarter of its natural gas. In the US Arctic the oil reserves are estimated atabout 15 million barrels, and gas reserves are over2 trillion cubic meters; 20 percent ofthe oil is extracted atPrudhoe Bay Oil Field. An Arctic winter has days without sunlight, and the summer has days where the sun never sets (which is why it's called the "land of the midnight sun"). More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Global warming means more of the ice covering the northernmost region of the world has melted, making drilling easier. 6. Colors: undiscovered oil (greens) dark = >10 billion barrels, medium = 110, light = <1; undiscovered gas (reds) dark = >100 trillion cubic feet; medium = 6100; light = <6. Houghton, J.T., Ding, Y., Griggs, D.J., Noguer, M., Van Der Linden, P.J., Dai, X., Maskell, K., And Johnson, C.A. Skip to main content Accessibility help We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Interested in receiving the latest in data and information about the geosciences? Lasse Eriksen Bjoern, an activist from the indigenous Sami people of northern Norway, told Reuters that drilling could damage Arctic fisheries and endanger their way of life. Two years ago, there was a major oil spill in its Arctic territory. [7] Many marine species have traditional cultural value to Alaska Natives; these marine species are being threatened by climate change. Report to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, October 2013. 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Natural Resources Canada Arctic Bridging traditional and scientific knowledge in Tuktoyaktuk This is the first in a series of Simply Science articles exploring places where traditional Indigenous knowledge intersects with conventional core science. 1 An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Arctic Standards: Recommendations on Oil Spill Prevention, Response, and Safety in the U.S. Arctic Ocean, The Only Safe Arctic Drilling is No Arctic Drilling, Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaskas North Slope, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alpine Satellite Development Plan for the Proposed Greater Mooses Tooth One Development Project: Record of Decision, February 2015, Oil Spill Occurrence Rates for Alaska North Slope Crude & Refined Oil Spills, BP Exploration Alaska to Pay $25 Million Penalty for Alaskan North Slope Oil Spill, GC-2 Transit Line Spill: Tundra Treatment Plan Rev.1, March 18, 2006, 25 Years Later: Timeline of Recovery from Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, International Forums: The Arctic Offshore Regulators Forum (AORF), Petroleum and the Environment: an Introduction, Induced Seismicity from Oil and Gas Operations, Groundwater Protection in Oil and Gas Production, Transportation of Oil, Gas, and Refined Products, Methane Emissions in the Oil and Gas Industry, Mitigating and Regulating Methane Emissions, Health and Safety in Oil and Gas Extraction, Subsurface Data in the Oil and Gas Industry, Geoscientists in Petroleum and the Environment, Geoscientists in Petroleum and Environment. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS GOVERNANCE IN THE ARCTIC: A Leadership Role for the U.S. High oil prices affect the realisation of environmental goals by making it harder to power the energy transition, a problem that is only worsened by the current oil shortage. There's even algae that live in the ice. States with territory and territorial waters within the Arctic Circle are Norway, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the US, Canada and Denmark (which owns Greenland). There is concern that melting Arctic glaciers and sea ice may raise sea levels around the globe, and that, if enough freshwater is introduced to the North Atlantic, there could be a shift in ocean currents. Oil production on the North Slope of Alaska began in 1977. https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/arctic-resources. Much of these inaccessible reserves are in the Arctic. [40], Accelerated climate change in the Arctic- as a direct result from resource exploitation and increased anthropogenic activity in the region- will drastically alter the livelihoods of indigenous people in this Arctic. The six activists trying to ban oil and gas drilling in Norway's Arctic seas. Transportation of Oil, Gas, and Refined Products [46], Offshore drilling in the Arctic also poses huge threats to the regional ecosystem and indigenous communities. taking place in the Arctic from a European perspective. Nonetheless, more than400 onshore oil and gas fields have been discovered north ofthe Arctic Circle. [15] However, no other Arctic nations recognized this stunt as having legal significance. Economics of Undiscovered Oil in the Federal Lands of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska. The U.S. also imports and exports large volumes of Introduction Indigenous people depend heavily on the natural environment for necessities such as hunting, harvesting, fishing, and herding. In 2018, the intersection between oil, gas, and the Arctic environment is a topic of much current discussion due to recent federal decisions to expand federal oil and gas leasing in the coastal area of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (the 1002 area), in a larger area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and offshore.3 Concerns over increased environmental risks in a region already experiencing rapid environmental and climatic changes are often weighed against the economic benefits of increased exploration and production. The Arctic presents the world's new "El Dorado" of still attainable natural resources, with an estimated 90 billion barrels of oil (16 percent of global total), 1,669 trillion cubic feet of gas (30 percent), and 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids (38 percent). Since 2016 Norway - Western Europe's largest oil producer - has granted a number of licences to explore for oil and gas in the Barents Sea, inside the Arctic Circle. For example, in Denmark the retreating of the ice caps has exposed mineral deposits, such as rare-earth metals, that can be extracted and used for technologies like cell phones or military guidance systems. Russia jailed 30 Greenpeace activists protesting the platform and seized their ship. 12. [53], Climate change is making Arctic resources more accessible. This map shows the different gas, oil, and mining resources in the Arctic. europa.eu domain. Privacy Policy. [40] In 2016, China indicated that it planned to ship cargo through the Northwest Passage, setting up a conflict with Canada, which asserts sovereignty over the area. The mineral resources include major reserves of oil and natural gas, large quantities of minerals including iron ore, copper, nickle, zinc phosphates and diamonds. Responding to Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment.Arctic Council. Download a full PDF ofPetroleum and the Environment(free) orpurchase a printed version($19.99). Oil & Gas The Arctic contains a wealth of petroleum and mineral resources. Alaskan oil production dropped over 75% from 1988 to 2015 as fields discovered in the 1960s were gradually depleted. The Arctic is dominated by the Arctic Ocean basin, and the icy reaches of Scandinavia, Russia, the U.S. state of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Many of the worlds oil and gas resources lie beneath the oceans. In this module we'll first take stock of some of the renewable and non-renewable resources in the Arctic, and . 21. Countries can extend these zones, if they can show that their land masses go further into the sea. As many as 300,000 snow geese visit the coastal plain each fall to feed on the tundra. How much have new cars co2 emissions decreased? Land Use in the Oil and Gas Industry EEA Plone KGS 23.6.14. More oil drilling will only exacerbate the challenges brought on by climate change in this region. Health and Safety in Oil and Gas Extraction The biggest gas fields are inthe coastal area ofAlaska and Siberia. Although the federal government controls 60% of Alaskan land and all the ocean between the limits of state and international waters (i.e., from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore), much of the oil and gas development to date has been on state and Native land around Prudhoe Bay in Alaskas North Slope. Hydrogen cannot be produced without palladium, a platinum group metal vital for every aspect of the hydrogen economy, from purification to fuel cell production. The Arctic Ocean fosters shorter trade routes between 80 percent of the most industrialized nations. Commercial extraction ofoil began inthe 1920s inCanada's Northwest Territories. Narsaq, a town of 1,200 in southern Greenland, sits near the Kvanefjeld project, one of two major rare earth mineral deposits in Greenland. 3. [27], In November 2016, citing the need for environmental protection, the U.S. Department of the Interior instituted a ban on drilling in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea of the Arctic between 2017 and 2022. [41], In addition to China, 11 other non-Arctic nations have observer status in the Arctic Council: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and India. Nevertheless, all technological and industrial development in the fragile Arctic landscape, including exploration projects, must be pursued with sustainability and environmental protection in mind. [52] Even though carbon dioxide is the abundant greenhouse gas, these other gases actually absorb radiation more efficiently and persist in the atmosphere longer than carbon dioxide, so their warming effects increase with time. Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal: Estimated of Undiscovered Oil and Gas North of the Arctic Circle. Read about our approach to external linking. Walruses use the ice as a place to rest. During the last several decades, the Arctic territories ofRussia, Alaska, Norway, and Canada have produced billions ofcubic meters ofoil and gas. 18. In 2021, six young Norwegians . Module 2: Resource Management in the Arctic. Although the Arctic is gaining popularity worldwide as a tourism and wildlife-watching destination, the region has always been vital to the identity, culture, and survival of its indigenous people. from version 23.3.11, Software version: Our work illustrates the complex link between the drivers of catchment-scale impacts on one hand, and lake proxy responses on the other, highlighting the importance of an integrated historical and palaeolimnological . The most developed sector ofthe region, the Russian Arctic also holds abundant deposits ofnickel, copper, coal, gold, uranium, tungsten, and diamonds. About 60 ofthese are very extensive, butroughly one quarter ofthem are not yet inproduction. [21], The Kingdom of Denmark has expressed interest in resource exploitation, but has stressed the need to do so in a manner that respects the Arctic's nature and environment. In its Arctic strategy report, Denmark acknowledged the importance of practicing the "highest international standards of safety, health, environment, preparedness and response" when extracting resources in the region. Furthermore, the indigenous Gwich'in people rely on the resources of the coastal plain, especially the porcupine caribou. Production from federal lands in NPRA is expected to start in the near future. Natural Resources ~50 years left till accessible oil and natural gas reserves run out 22% of the world's undiscovered, technically recoverable resources in the Arctic 40% of the world's palladium production is in the Russian Arctic Role in energy transition [12], The U.S. Geological Survey conducted research on the undiscovered resources north of the Arctic Circle. , Saving Americas wildlife strengthens our democracy and prosperity for future generations. [3], In Greenland, retreating ice caps revealed deposits of rare-earth metals and other minerals, sparking a race between Europe and China over access to this resource. Responding to Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, Arctic Potential: Realizing the Promise of U.S. Arctic Oil and Gas Resources, Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal: Estimated of Undiscovered Oil and Gas North of the Arctic Circle, Economics of Undiscovered Oil in the Federal Lands of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Cretaceous Nanushuk and Torok Formations, Alaska North Slope, and Summary of Resource Potential of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, 2017, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1002 Area, Petroleum Assessment, 1998 (revised), Including Economic Analysis, H.R. Without the work of geoscientists, we would have neither the energy system nor the Introduction These changes indirectly create more conflict in water scarcity and will increase migration of communities. 10. 16 June 2023 13:52 New discoveries may change this trend. The most successful pathway toward strong sustainability is collaborative. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): An Overview. Explore current-year Alaska-based projects to survey areas throughout the Arctic.
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