Abstract In 1995–2006 FSUE ‘Sevmorgeo’ within the framework of the Federal Program of state survey baselines network development performed geophysical works in the Barents and Kara seas along four regional profiles: 1-AR (Kola Peninsula–Heysa Island of Franz-Joseph Land Archipelago); 2-AR (Central part of the Barents region–Novaya Zemlya – Yamal Peninsula); 3-AR (White Sea–Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago); and 4-AR (Taimyr Peninsula–Franz-Joseph Land Archipelago). Geophysical surveys included works using seismic refraction–deep seismic sounding technique, seismic reflection–common-depth point technique, seismic acoustic profiling and gravimetric and magnetic measurements. Integrated geophysical surveys along the regional profiles enabled more exact definition of the Earth deep crustal structure and the sedimentary cover of the main tectonic elements.

Abstract The area under consideration covers the Gydan–Yuratsk shallow waters, the southern part of the Kara shelf and the coastal parts of the Yamal, Yavai and Gydan peninsulas. In 2006–2007 Sevmorgeo conducted seismic surveys offshore the Gydan and Yuratskiy bays and in addition regional profiles in the southern part of the Kara Shelf were processed. The high-quality seismic data, their processing and interpretation with the onshore lines and an integrated interpretation with gravimetric–magnetic survey data allowed a unified geological model of the Gydan–Yuratsk region and southern part of the Kara Shelf to be made, aiding the evaluation of the oil and gas potential.