Hydrocarbon Resources Replacement on the Basis of Innovations as Factor of Economic Growth and Competitive Ability of the Region

We have analyzed the function of hydrocarbon replacement in growth and competitive ability of the economy through the example of the Republic of Tatarstan which is an industrially developed region of the Russian Federation. This function consists of the following possibilities: provision of fuel-and-power resources; development of a complex of related sectors of chemical and petrochemical industry; region budgeting. As of today exploration of natural bitumens, which is however possible only under innovative approaches, is the most important method of expansion of hydrocarbon production. A wide complex of special innovative technologies is performed in the Republic of Tatarstan: lateral drilling; processing of bitumens in situ; increase of processing depth of bitumen raw materials. These technologies allow stabilizing hydrocarbon resources replacement. The described experience can be applied in any other region. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.