In the conditions of price reduction in the world energy market, the issue of determining the priorities of the economic development of hydrocarbons in the Arctic Region of the Russian Federation (RF) becomes highly relevant. The article is aimed at developing an optimal model for the spatial organization of energy resources in the Arctic Region. The expert elicitation procedure was used to determine the efficiency indicators for the economic development of the oil-and-gas-bearing areas in the Arctic Region and clusterization of these areas was carried out in terms of economic efficiency. Based on the factor analysis, the degree of influence of efficiency indicators on the economic development of the oil and gas bearing areas of the region was determined and, an integrated performance indicator of economic development for oil-and-gas-bearing areas for each cluster was calculated with regard to the factor loadings. A 3-D model was developed for the organization of economic development of oil and gas in the Arctic Region. The 3-D model became the basis for determining the priorities for territorial exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons in terms of their economic efficiency, taking into account the trends in the development of the world energy market and break-even fields. A set of recommendations was developed to improve the efficiency of the spatial organization of economic development of oil and gas in the Arctic Region. The implementation of the proposed measures can contribute to the development of the oil and gas industry in the region, its socio-economic development and the long-term sustainability of Russia's energy security.

The article considers problems and trends in industrial development of hydrocarbons in the continental shelf of the Russian Arctic Zone. We have provided a general description for the dynamics of industrial development of hydrocarbons in the Arctic continental shelf, including the Prirazlomnoye oil field. We have established that the pace of industrial development of the continental shelf depends on two interrelated trends, i.e., the drive for intensified industrial development of hydrocarbons and the current level of socio-economic development of Russia and the Arctic territories. We have systematized the factors that heavily affect the dynamics of development of the Arctic continental shelf and reduce the attractiveness of investment projects in industrial development of hydrocarbons on the shelf. We have confirmed that socio-economic efficiency of shelf deposit development in the Arctic should to be assessed comprehensively, which is impossible without organizing systematic integrated assessment of resources, the state of the environment, the projected technical and economic indicators and environmental consequences of development of shelf deposits. Furthermore, economic assessment has to be carried out for positive and negative externalities arising from industrial development of hydrocarbons in the continental shelf, affecting the socio-economic status of the population of the Arctic regions, health and quality of life.

The paper considers Russia’s position in the system of European energy policy on the natural gas market. We have analyzed the interest in natural gas exports in the context of maintaining the energy security of EU countries, stimulating in turn the interest towards the Arctic oil and gas reserves as a means of increasing supplies. We have established the role that diversification of transportation means plays in ensuring exports. We have described the capacities of the main pipelines transporting gas to the EU countries. We have substantiated why investments should be made into establishing and improving the transport infrastructure in the Arctic, specifically, developing the routes for transporting natural gas.