The overall jump in global demand for gas, and especially oil, gives rise to particular concern regarding mankind’s energy future. In the middle and late 21st century, the crucial role in securing oil and gas supply of mankind will be played by sedimentary basins in the Arctic Ocean deep-water area, including those of the continental shelf in Russia’s Arctic seas. There is a 0.90 probability that the initial in-place resources of hydrocarbons in the Arctic Ocean will be greater than 90 Btoe. The estimates predict the rise of oil and gas industries on the Arctic shelves in the near future.

Division of sedimentary strata according to groundwater chemistry is discussed with implications for petroleum reservoir potential. It is suggested to process multiparametric water chemistry data from West Siberia using formalized clustering techniques. The efficiency of this approach has been tested for Neocomian clinoform reservoirs with reference to regional-scale appraisal and subregional petroleum division.

The evolution of views of the stratigraphy of Berriasian–Lower Aptian deposits of West Siberia is described. In connection with a clinoform model of the section structure, suggestions are made for its stratification; according to new recommendations to the stratigraphic scheme, paleogeographic reconstructions were carried out for the four stratigraphic units identified in the Berriasian–Early Aptian play.

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The dramatic rise in the world oil and gas demand has led to concerns about the energy future for mankind. In the twenty-first century the sedimentary basins of the Arctic Ocean will play a leading role as petroleum provinces, including its Russian shelf areas. This article deals with the characteristics and assessment of resources in the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean offshore areas. One can predict with 0.90 probability that the Arctic Ocean initial in-place hydrocarbon resources exceed 90 billion tons oil equivalent (toe). The assessments lead to the conclusion that during these years a petroleum production industry will develop on the Arctic Ocean Shelf.