Аннотация:Norwegian and Russian scientific cooperation has been developing for many years and covered a wide range of problems. Recently, collaboration has focused on the West Arctic to improve our understanding of the regional geology, structural and stratigraphic development. Despite this joint effort, much uncertainty remains in forecasting oil and gas accumulations both in the Russian and Norwegian sectors of the shelf. Petroleum resources of the Barents Sea may substantially contribute to future petroleum production both in Norway and Russia. The Russian part of the West Arctic shelf, including the Barents, Kara and Pechora seas, accounts for over 75% of Russian total identified off- shore petroleum resources, or 8.2 billion t of reference fuel (Ledovskikh, 2006). In the Norwegian continental shelf zone, remaining resources of recoverable hydrocarbons are estimated by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate at approximately 2.1-4.9 billion m of oil equivalent. Resources of the Norwegian continental shelf are located in three large offshore areas: the continental shelf of the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea (35%, 36% and 29%, respectively). To date, 5 oil (Pechora Sea), 3 gas- condensate (including the unique Shtokmanovskoye) and 3 gas fields are discovered within the Russian sector and 12 mainly gas fields in the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea. Recoverable reserves of the Snohvit field located in the central part of the Hammerfest basin are estimated at 193 billion m3 of gas and 113 million barrels of condensate. Besides, ENI has made a promising oil discovery in Lower Jurassic sand of the Golith structure. In addition to significant hydrocarbon discoveries, the Barents Sea shelf is a testing area for applying new exploration and drilling techniques in arctic conditions. Field development runs in parallel with exploration activity in both sectors. The Statoil operated Snohvit gas and oil field is expected to be the first offshore field in production there. Statoil uses lead- ing edge subsea technologies in the project, which includes the first LNG plant in Europe. Its startup is scheduled for late 2007. Optimal modeling of geological development will require transboundary evaluation to fully describe the regional history and understand its implications. Geological knowledge and understand- ing of structural and stratigraphic development are vital to our success. Exchange of experience between Norwegian and Russian scientists and exploration- ists is vital to assessing the regions petroleum potential and exploration risk reduction.3