Russia has traditionally been one of the world leaders in natural gas reserves, with about a fifth of them located in our country. According to preliminary data from Rosnedra in 2024, this is 63.5 trillion cubic meters. The country ranks fifth in terms of oil reserves, with 31.4 billion tons in total.
The largest Russian gas fields are located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District (Yamalo–Nenets Autonomous District): Urenogoyskoye is unique, the third largest in the world with reserves of 4.2 trillion cubic meters, Tambeyskoye – 3.8 trillion cubic meters and Shtokmanovskoye on the shelf of the Barents Sea – 3.9 trillion cubic meters.
The three oil giants of the country are also located in the north: Priobskoye with reserves of over 1.6 billion tons of oil in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (Khanty–Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug), Payakhskoye with 1.3 billion tons in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Krasnoleninskoye with 1.13 billion tons in the Khanty–Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug.
"Currently, there are 4,052 licenses in the country for the geological study, exploration and production of hydrocarbons, which are distributed among 747 subsurface users. In general, Russia has been provided with recoverable reserves of natural gas at the current production level for more than 100 years, and oil for about 64.5 years," commented the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia. Alexander Kozlov.
From energy, roads to medicines and the food industry
Everyone knows the use of natural gas and refined petroleum products in the energy sector. Gas is an environmentally friendly fuel for heating the residential sector. When public transport runs on gas, as well as trains and private cars, the level of air pollution in cities and towns is significantly reduced.
Oil is an important base for various types of fuels that power automobiles, airplanes, civilian ships, and warships. Bitumen, an oil refining product, is indispensable for the construction of highways. It is added to asphalt as a binding element, as a result, roads are able to withstand enormous loads and different weather conditions.
Refined petroleum products are components for the manufacture of plastics, synthetic rubber, cosmetics, such as perfumes, and even medicines. Natural gas is used to produce glass, methanol, synthetic oils, and more.
Exploration is ahead of production
Oil and gas are indispensable in the economy of any country. In Russia, these minerals are classified as strategic raw materials. According to the Russian Ministry of Energy, gas production in 2024 amounted to 685 billion cubic meters, oil – 516 million tons.
In the near future, it is planned to put into development the Parusovoye, Severo-Parusovoye and Semakovskoye fields in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Their total reserves amount to more than 450 billion cubic meters and over 7 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons.
Exploration is ahead of production: according to Rosnedra's operational data, the increase in recoverable oil and condensate reserves in 2024 amounted to 592 million tons, and for natural gas – 708 billion cubic meters.
39 new hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered. The most significant discoveries of the year were the Ilginsky field in the Irkutsk Region, the Mitikyakhskoye field in the Yamalo–Nenets Autonomous District, the Severo-Baykalovskoye field in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Nelyatskoye field in Yakutia and the Nikolay Myshevsky field in the Irkutsk Region. Their total reserves are almost 290 billion cubic meters of gas, 39 million tons of condensate and over 21 million tons of oil.
Before putting these volumes on the state balance sheet of mineral reserves, a lot of exploration work was carried out. The business invested about 320 billion rubles in exploration in 2023, the final figures for 2024 will be announced by the subsoil users later, but according to operational data from Rosnedra, the same order of figures is expected, as in the plans for 2025.
The state has been investing 11-12 billion rubles in the exploration of hydrocarbons in recent years, and 11 billion rubles have also been allocated from the federal budget for 2025. Government investments determine the resource potential of promising areas for oil and gas, this is the most important stage of exploration, and the discovery of any field begins with it.
The key point is the choice of location in terms of the effectiveness of the development of the future field. At the first stage of the project "Geology: the Rebirth of a Legend", geological exploration was carried out at eight sites: one of the main principles was proximity to the waterway and transport artery of Yakutia – the Lena River. The task is to create a new gas cluster that will help, among other things, ensure the loading of the Northern Sea Route.
"Eight hydrocarbon sites of Geologiya: Rebirth of Legend have been offered for licensing, auctions may take place in 2025. The increase in localized resources amounted to 5.1 billion tons of conventional fuel," said the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia. Alexander Kozlov.
In 2025, as part of the second stage of the project "Geology: Rebirth of a Legend", exploration will start at 10 hydrocarbon sites at once, and in total, taking into account the state program "Reproduction and Use of Natural Resources", oil and gas will be searched for in 33 promising areas: in the Far East, Siberia, the Urals and the country's shelf.
Please note that this press release is based on materials provided by the company. AK&M Information Agency shall not be held liable for its contents, nor for the legal and other consequences of its publication.
