Oil resources of cryolithozone of Russia (overview)

The hydrocarbon potential in the permafrost zone (cryolithozone) is considered. The volume of oil reserves in the permafrost zone of Russia is much larger than in oil and gas bearing territories outside the permafrost zone (61,23 and 38,77%, respectively). Differences in physical and chemical properties of oils of Russia in the field of distribution of permafrost zone and outside it are shown. Comparative analysis of chemical composition of oils in the areas of distribution of permafrost was carried out. It is shown that the content of sulfur, paraffins, resins and asphaltenes in oils in permafrost territories is, on average, less than their contents in oils outside the permafrost zone. The content of diesel fractions in oils of permafrost zone is by 11-13% higher. As to the oil of the Timan- Pechora field, in permafrost of island type most of oil lies at a depth of 1000- 2000 m (51,9%), in discontinuous permafrost zone equal quantity of oil is at a depth of 2000 m (46,3%) and below 2000 m (53,7%), and in the zone of continuous permafrost the majority of oil lies below 2000 m (90%).