The work reports on the results of geochemical studies of the bottom sediments on the shelf of the East Siberian Sea. The sediments’ gas content, gas composition, and gas geochemical and isotopic characteristics are determined. Abnormal zones of distribution of methane, hydrocarbon gases, and carbon dioxide are revealed within the studied areas, along with the general geological factors affecting gas formation. Areas of distribution of hydrocarbon gases of varying origins are distinguished. The potential for oil-and-gas content is estimated.

The continental margins of the East Siberian Sea and Arctic Ocean are among the Earth’s most inaccessible marine environments for hydrocarbon research due to the almost year-round presence of ice cover. Despite this, limited preliminary assessments which have been carried out to date have all yielded some indication of high oil and gas production potential in these regions. This article presents the results of gas-geochemical studies of seafloor sediments of the East Siberian Sea, obtained in three expeditions onboard the R/V “Akademik Lavrentiev” in 2008 (LV45), 2016 (LV77), and 2020 (LV90). The composition of sorbed hydrocarbon gases in seafloor sediments was analyzed. In addition, the stable isotopic composition of carbon was determined for CH₄, C₂H₆, and CO₂ in gases, which were desorbed from marine sediments. The sediments were also analyzed for organic matter content. Despite the absence of observable gas seepage directly into the water column, at some stations, increased concentrations of methane and hydrocarbon gases were encountered, indicating the widespread predominance of thermogenically derived gases. We present a hydrocarbon classification system which delineates eight identifiable sources of regional gas occurrences (coal gas, igneous rocks, solid bitumen, condensate-gas, gas-condensate, oil gas, gas oil, and oil gases). A stable isotopic analysis of carbon in CH₄, C₂H₆, and CO₂ indicates varying degrees of mixing between a shallow, early-kerogen gas source and a deeper mantle carbon source in some areas of the study.