Withstanding the forces of Arctic sea ice

New study finds existing construction standards for Arctic offshore oil platforms will ensure survival in Beaufort and Chukchi seas

ALAN BAILEY

Petroleum News

A recently completed research project, conducted by the University of Alaska in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, has found that existing engineering standards for the construction of Arctic offshore structures will ensure that the structures can survive the onslaught of sea ice in extreme Arctic conditions, BSEE has reported.

The idea of the study was to use information from observed sea ice conditions to estimate the likely ice forces and their impacts on structures designed to the ISO 19909 standard, the international engineering standard that applies to Arctic offshore structures for the oil and gas industry.

To gather the necessary information, the research team collected ice measurements from the Chukchi and Beaufort seas across multiple seasons over a two-year period. Parameters recorded included the annual timing of the first and last ice occurrence, the ice level, the ice ridging, ice keel depths and ice movement. An analysis of the data provided a range of annual data values and the ability to draw conclusions about ice impacts on structures.

The researchers were also able to validate recommendations in the engineering standard for how to estimate the ice forces that may impact an offshore structure. The team found that, in fact, the standard is conservative in its design requirements and that it would, if applied, ensure the survival of a structure in sea ice.

BSEE said that it will present the results of the study at an upcoming meeting in Washington, D.C., of the Arctic Offshore Regulators Forum, to be attended by representatives from the six Arctic nations.

In Alaska, BSEE has a dedicated program coordinator who assists in identifying research for advancing BSEE’s Arctic regulatory objectives, BSEE said. Currently, seven studies are in progress to assess offshore engineering technology and the conditions that operators face in harsh Arctic conditions. The results of the studies will help BSEE understand the ways in which Arctic conditions could impact future regulatory standards, BSEE said.