Problems and prospects for the development of hydrocarbon resources in the context of the global transition to clean energy

Abstract

Decarbonization of the world economy is one of the main trends in global development of the last decade. The beginning of the transition of the world economy to green energy poses new tasks and challenges for the geological exploration industry as well as for the fuel and energy complex. Currently, the most demanded energy-chemical resources are oil, natural gas and, to a lesser extent, coal. Their production has approached the maximum possible level and in the near future will inevitably begin to decline. However, due to large investments and highly efficient technologies, the process of switching to alternative energy sources may drag on for a long period, during which traditional hydrocarbons will remain the basis of the energy sector in many countries. The share of hard-to-recover reserves in the world is constantly growing; in Russia, it currently exceeds 65%. Hard-to-recover reserves include, in particular, reserves of highviscosity oils and bitumen (with a viscosity of more than 30 mPa·s). The article discusses the prospects and possible ways of developing bitumen and coal deposits within the Volga-Ural oil and gas basin. Keywords: decarbonization; natural bitumen; heavy oil; coal seams; thermal treatment.