The objective of this project is to identify the knowledge gaps in ice scour and gouging effects with respect to pipeline and wellhead placement and design in the Beaufort Sea. The review shall include, but not be limited to:
The 2013-14 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: Describe the ice conditions that evolve during the freeze-up and early winter seasons, including the development of the landfast ice zone and early shear zone; Locate and map features of potential importance for offshore exploration and production activities, including ice movement lines, substantial leads (linear openings in the sea ice) and polynyas (areal openings in the sea ice), first-year ridges and rubble
In February 2012, a large, grounded ice feature was discovered off the Chukchi Sea coast in the vicinity of Point Belcher. Based on the likelihood that a substantial ice gouge had been incised in the sea bottom, a joint industry project was commissioned to perform a bathymetric survey at the site immediately after break-up of the sea ice. The work was sponsored by Shell International Exploration and Production, Inc., Statoil Petroleum AG, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
The objective of this project is to determine the applicability of current standards, regulations, and practices which exist domestically and internationally, both within and outside of the oil and gas industry for use in determining and validation of the load ratings for new built cranes and de-rated cranes used during offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic.
The objective of this project is to produce information that will facilitate strict implementation of the ISO J 9906 Standard: Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries -Arctic Offshore Structures. The information gathered under this contract will consist of meteorological and oceanographic information, for US waters in both the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, in a format consistent with the philosophy of the Normative.
The objective of this project is to produce information that will facilitate strict implementation of the ISO 19906 Standard: Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries - Arctic Offshore Structures (i.e., the Normative). The information will consist of sea-ice information, for U.S. waters in both the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, in a format consistent with the philosophy of the Normative.
For the past three years BSEE has partnered with Shell Offshore, Inc (Shell) in order to help understand the yearly arctic freeze-up. Having multiple concurrent years of study is proving to be extremely valuable for comparing and contrasting differences between yearly weather patterns and freeze-ups, along with identifying differences to historical data collected in the 1980's. This freeze up study is on its 4th consecutive year.
The overall objective of the proposed research is to describe a systematic series of slide-hold-slide (or start-stop-start) experiments on first-year sea ice, designed to determine the effect of healing on the resistance to frictional sliding of ice-on-ice. Frictional sliding plays a fundamental role in the brittle compressive failure of sea ice and, in ice loading of structures.
1) Developing a design and operation practice document based on existing technology, industry experience, and consensus building. This document can be used as:
2) Providing a forum for the industry and regulators to exchange information/ideas and work together to build consensus.
3) Developing a proposal for further joint industry work
For the past two years BSEE has partnered with Shell Offshore, Inc (Shell) in order to help understand the yearly arctic freeze-up. Having multiple concurrent years of study is proving to be extremely valuable for comparing and contrasting differences between yearly weather patterns and freeze-ups, along with identifying differences to historical data collected in the 1980's. This freeze up study is on its 3rd consecutive year. Statoil joined in this effort for the first time.
