Natural and technogenic threats in fossil fuels production in the Earth cryolithosphere

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2020-1-97-118
Читать на русскоя языкеV.I. Bogoyavlensky
Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, The Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №1 / 2020 pp. 97-118

Abstract: The leading role of Russia in fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) production in the Arctic is shown. A comprehensive analysis of fossil fuels mining challenges and peculiarities in the cryolithosphere has been carried out. The general patterns of emergencies associated with high gas saturation of the upper part of the section and gas blowouts have been revealed. The mechanisms of gas-saturated cavities leading to the formation have been substantiated, including those formed by layers gas ruptures caused by ultrahigh (more, then geostatic) pressure (UHP). Gas-saturated cavities with UHP threaten rock bumps in mines with and catastrophic blowouts of gas, coal and rocks. They can also lead to the growth of perennial frost mounds and catastrophic blowouts into the atmosphere, self-ignition and gas explosions on the surface of the Earth and water of thermokarst lakes, rivers and seas. The necessity of expanding comprehensive research in the field of natural and technogenic degassing of the Earth is shown.

Keywords: Arctic, cryolithosphere, gas hydrates, fossil fuels mining, remote sensing of the Earth, thermokarsts, gas-saturated cavities, abnormal reservoir pressure, ultrahigh pressures, degassing, gas and coal blowouts, gas explosions, methane danger, gas rupture of the layer

Acknowledgements: The work was executed following the state assignment under the topic of "Sustainable environmental management and effective development of oil and gas resources of the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Earth zones" (No. AAAA-A19-119021590079-6). The author expresses his gratitude to Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.N. Malyshev and Corresponding Member of RAS V.N. Zakharov for valuable advice and recommendations

For citation: Bogoyavlensky V.I. Natural and technogenic threats in fossil fuels production in the Earth cryolithosphere. Gornaya promyshlennost = Russian Mining Industry. 2020;(1):97-118. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.30686/1609-9192-2020-1-97-118.

Article info

Received: 27.05.2019

Revised: 19.06.2019

Accepted: 21.07.2019

Information about the author

V.I. Bogoyavlensky – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, The Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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