Аннотация:The paper presents the features of the Russian oil complex development paradigm in the 20th century, including the priority search and development of unique and major fields; expansion of the oil industry geographical location; priority input into the development of reserves that are characterized by high quality characteristics. It is substantiated that at the present stage there is a need to change the development paradigm as well as the transition from extensive to intensive development, including the development of sedimentary basins of the Russian shelf of the Arctic Ocean; poorly studied petroleum provinces in the east of the country; unique oil resources of nonconventional sources; complex and rational use of residual reserves of unique and major fields.