A summit of the Arctic nations opened in Moscow today to reach an accord over development of potential oil and natural gas north of the Arctic Circle.

摘要

The summit, being hosted by the Russian Geographical Society, includes delegates from Russia, the US, Norway, Denmark (acting for Greenland) and Canada. All of the Arctic nations have laid claims to parts of the region. A US Geological Society report issued in 2009 said the Arctic could contain up to 90 billion barrels of oil and 1.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The USGS report said two-thirds of the undiscovered gas is in just four areas -- the South Kara Sea, North Barents basin, South Barents basin and the Alaska Platform. One area of possible conflict is the Lomonsov Ridge, which Canada, Russia and Norway have all made claims on.