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Russia finishes seismic surveys of shelf limits

"Kapitan Dranitsyn" in Kirkenes on August 5 before leaving for the East Siberian and Laptev Seas. Photo: Trude Pettersen

Russia’s state-owned geological prospecting company Sevmorgeo has completed a 2D seismic survey in the High Arctic to collect data on the Russian shelf’s outer limits.

Location

The two Russian icebrekaers “Dikson” and “Kapitan Dranitsyn” have returned after a nearly two month’s long expedition to the East Siberian and Laptev Seas, where they have collected data to support the country’s claims for the Mendeleev ridge in the Arctic Ocean.

If researches establish that the ridge is continuation of Russia’s continental shelf, the country will obtain the priority right to develop its natural resources.

The work was carried out by the UK-based seismic exploration firm WPG on behalf of Sevmorgeo. Ahead of the expedition the icebreaker “Dikson” had been converted and outfitted at the KIMEK shipyard in Kirkenes, which involved the installation of a combination of a ‘portable modular source system’, a seismic streamer and associated deck handling equipment, Rigzone writes.

During the survey “Dikson” was escorted by the icebreaker “Kaptain Dranitsyn”, which performed the role of lead vessel through pack ice and also provided replenishments for “Dikson”. The two icebreakers had a rendezvous in Kirkenes in the beginning of August before leaving for the expedition.