Arctic

Provide the BSEE Alaska Region with a comprehensive review and gap analysis of current United States (U.S.), State of Alaska and
international regulations, standards, and related specifications and technical reports for offshore hydrocarbon carrying pipelines in
Arctic conditions incorporating the new Federal Arctic Rule and including, but not limited to, American Petroleum Institute (API)
documents. Report on the state of the art and emerging technology of offshore hydrocarbon carrying pipelines in Arctic conditions

The proposed 2016-17 Freeze-Up and Break-Up Studies are intended to build upon the knowledge of freeze-up acquired since 2009-10, and to obtain an initial understanding of the nature of break-up under present-day conditions. The overarching purpose is to provide the BSEE Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region with observations and analysis of the processes that govern freeze-up and break-up in the Alaskan Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. 

Recently, under a BSEE contract, Alion integrated its previously designed ROV-based submersible sled technology with a commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) skimmer technology to develop and test a prototype system. A prototype of this system was successfully tested at Ohmsett. (BSEE Project Number 1053, http://www.bsee.gov/Technology-and-Research/Oil-Spill-Response-Research…).

The objective of this project was to conduct research on the thermal effects on wells and the risk of these as related to well integrity (specifically on well barriers) and potential solutions to these risks. The contractor evaluated the effects of thermal shock on OCS well integrity and identified ways to mitigate those effects.

This project focused on improving oil spill recovery methods in arctic conditions by developing and accessing techniques to (1) herd oil under an ice sheet, (2) increase recovery efficiencies of a VAB skimmer, and (3) increase the pumping efficiency of an oil/water mixture in sub-freezing temperatures.

Task 1: Oil Herding Under Solid Ice using an ROV Mounted Air Applicator

This study will measure the influence of oil characteristics and temperature on herder efficacy at the lab scale. ARA will systematically test the function of chemical herders across several crude oils. Both commercially available herders and emerging new formulations will be utilized. The herders will be tested on crude oils with varying properties. This information will support operational decisions to use herders during a response, and enhance the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's ability to evaluate the feasibility and likelihood of successful use of chemical herders.

The objective of this research is to assess the feasibility of a cold water and Arctic marine oil spill countermeasure strategy based on the stimulation of OMA formation in the presence of a chemical dispersant. Evaluations will be conducted on both laboratory and wave tank systems under controlled conditions to evaluate the potential effectiveness of treatment of oil spills from shipboard and rig operations.

The 2015-16 Freeze-Up Study is intended to build upon the knowledge and expand the database acquired during the past four years and is designed to address five specific objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine the state-of-the-art of Capping Stack technologies. The assessment determined the differences between capping stacks currently in use by industry in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and overseas. This study also conducted an assessment of the current capping stack standards, compiled a list of recommended Potential Incidents of Non Compliance (PINC) with criteria and guidelines for design, manufacture, maintenance, and inspection of Capping Stacks that could be incorporated into BSEE regulations.

The selection and effective qualification of new and existing materials, fluids and drilling methodologies commonly used in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and the North Sea (NS) shall be re-evaluated to take into consideration the `cycles' in the temperature and extreme conditions in the arctic.  The new technologies to be addressed shall include but not be limited to metallic materials (both solid and cladded materials), polymers, reinforced composites, fluids, and the different drilling methodologies.