According to the high-ranking official, Russia in 2009 practically completed geological exploration works on the shelf of the Caspian and Okhotsk Seas. In 2010, all the federal money for the purpose will be directed towards the Arctic waters, Ivanov told RIA Novosti. Talking to the Marine Board, Ivanov underlined that level of mapping of Russian waters remains very low and irregular and expressed confidence that the upcoming operations would reveal major new hydrocarbon resources in the Laptev, East Siberian and Chukotsk Seas.
