RAO/CIS Offshore 2023, the 16th International Exhibition and Conference for offshore oil & gas resources development of the Russian Arctic and the CIS continental shelf, was held from 26−29 September 2023 in St. Petersburg.

In recent years, St. Petersburg has established itself as a leading platform for discussing and advancing both domestic and international initiatives aimed at developing the Arctic zone. RAO/CIS Offshore plays a key role in this, serving as a unique platform for sharing experience, unveiling new technology, and establishing business connections in continental shelf resource development. The Forum’s status, scope, and significance have earned it recognition as a leading global platform for discussing key aspects of developing Arctic resources. Its program traditionally covers the full range of topical issues related to the sustainability of the Russian Arctic and shelf.

RAO/CIS Offshore 2023 — including its congress and exhibition programs, technical workshops, and the Youth Session — welcomed managers and specialists from over 250 companies and leading industry research institutes. Among the major participants were key players in the fuel and energy sector, such as Gazprom, Rosatom, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Rosneft, Novatek, and Transneft.
The central topic of RAO/CIS Offshore 2023 — "Unlocking Russia’s Potential through Arctic and Continental Shelf Development" - was the focus of the Plenary Session. Delegates heard from several experts on key topics, including state regulation in offshore development, the organization of Arctic and Antarctic research for regional infrastructure and construction in Russia, and the prospects for Gazprom’s technology capabilities in Arctic hydrocarbon extraction. They also discussed current tasks and future developments for the Northern Sea Route, as well as the state and outlook of legal regulation in subsoil use and nuclear energy ahead of upcoming offshore projects. Speakers included Maxim KULINKO, Deputy Director of the Northern Sea Route Directorate at Rosatom; Andrey CHEKANSKY, Head of the Gazprom Department; Vasily USTINOV, Head of the Kurchatov Complex of Nuclear Transport and Energy Technologies at the Kurchatov Institute; Denis NIKISHIN, Deputy Director of Rosgeolekspertiza; and Roman SAMSONOV, Professor at Moscow State University of Civil Engineering and Associate Professor at the Higher School of Public Administration at Moscow State University.
Thirteen thematic conference sessions provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the technology, legislative, regulatory, and economic aspects of developing resources in the continental shelf and Arctic zone. Over 650 specialists attended the Forum. The conference program featured 235 presentations.
An exhibition showcasing innovative solutions from 35 domestic companies involved in Arctic geological exploration, production, and hydrocarbon resource transportation complemented the conference discussions. The companies included Sevmash, Uralmash NGO Holding, Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka, Kurchatov Institute, Okeanos, the Central Research and Development Institute of Automatic Equipment and Hydraulics, North-Western Maritime Agency, and others. The Exhibition featured a collective stand of St. Petersburg enterprises, organized by the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs. Participants showcased the city’s industrial, scientific, and educational potential, all geared toward the development of Arctic territories and the continental shelf.
The Forum announced the winners of the Russian government-supported International Competition for Scientific, Technical, and Innovative Solutions for Arctic and continental shelf development. In 2023, 43 submissions from 32 organizations were entered into the competition, covering a wide range of scientific, technical, and industrial challenges. Seven works were awarded laureates. Following the competition, it was recommended that projects with potential industrial and production value, still in the early stages of development, be included in federal programs and initiatives.
RAO/CIS Offshore has been held since 1993 and, over the past thirty years, has become a key platform for addressing technological and scientific challenges in the development of hydrocarbon resources on the continental shelf, particularly in the Arctic Ocean and Far Eastern seas.
The Forum was organized bythe Russian Federation Government, the Ministry of Energy of Russia, Gazprom, Kurchatov Institute, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences for Geology and Development of Oil, Gas, and Coal Deposits, and RESTEC Exhibition Company.
The event enjoyed the support of its official sponsor, Novatek; conference session sponsor, Transneft; and Youth Session sponsor, Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Considering the industry development ideas presented by delegates, a Forum Resolution was prepared at the close of the Forum and shared with the Russian government, relevant agencies, and major energy companies.