Efficiency of Ice Management for Arctic Offshore Operations

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badr El Bakkay ◽  
Edmond Coche ◽  
Kaj Riska
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Arctic Exploration ◽  
The One

The exploration and production of polar oil and gas fields, which are technologically challenging due to extreme weather conditions, are also constrained by strong environmental issues. Safe and economical activities in such hostile and fragile regions require very insightful engineering. The presence of sea ice is representing a triple challenge: economical, technological and environmental. This makes the Arctic exploration and production activities complex. Ice Management (IM) is one of the tools that could efficiently assist to develop Arctic reserves. However, for each project that uses IM operations, a preliminary study is required to evaluate the efficiency of these support operations and to estimate the possible extension in the season of operation of a field. Efficiency of an IM philosophy can be estimated in a global view based on the extension in the operability window. In a more detailed view, it can be assessed taking into account the optimal number of icebreakers, the IM patterns, the available time for eventual disconnection, and the floe size reduction (leading to ice load reduction). For this study, we will focus on the ice floe size and loads reduction. The most common approach for physical management of sea ice is the one where icebreakers reduce floe size of the drifting ice upstream the floating platform (ref. Moran et al. [1], Coche et al. [2]). This paper describes this philosophy and demonstrates based on real-time simulation that its benefit is limited to mild ice scenarios such as unidirectional ice drift. A more efficient way to manage sea ice is (1) to identify the most hazardous events (e.g. big ridges); (2) prioritize these events; and (3) deal with them starting by the most hazardous one.

Trends and Prospects of Development of the Oil and Gas Sector in the Context of Digitalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Kazanin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Global Market ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Business And Society ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Sector

The modern oil and gas industry is heavily dependent on the processes and trends driven by the accelerating digitalization of the economy. Thus, the digitalization of the oil and gas sector has become Russia’s top priority, which involves a technological and structural transformation of all production processes and stages.Aim. The presented study aims to identify the major trends and prospects of development of the Russian oil and gas sector in the context of its digitalization and formation of the digital economy.Tasks. The authors analyze the major trends in the development of the oil and gas industry at a global scale and in Russia with allowance for the prospects of accelerated exploration of the Arctic; determine the best practices of implementation of digital technologies by oil and gas companies as well as the prospects and obstacles for the subsequent transfer of digital technologies to the Russian oil and gas industry.Methods. This study uses general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, and scientific generalization.Results. Arctic hydrocarbons will become increasingly important to Russia in the long term, and their exploration and production will require the implementation of innovative technologies. Priority directions for the development of many oil and gas producers will include active application of digital technologies as a whole (different types of robots that could replace people in performing complex procedures), processing and analysis of big data using artificial intelligence to optimize processes, particularly in the field of exploration and production, processing and transportation. Digitalization of the oil and gas sector is a powerful factor in the improvement of the efficiency of the Russian economy. However, Russian companies are notably lagging behind in this field of innovative development and there are problems and high risks that need to be overcome to realize its potential for business and society.Conclusions. Given the strategic importance of the oil and gas industry for Russia, its sustainable development and national security, it is recommendable to focus on the development and implementation of digital technologies. This is crucial for the digitalization of long-term projection and strategic planning, assessment of the role and place of Russia and its largest energy companies in the global market with allowance for a maximum number of different internal and external factors.

scholarly journals Drilling for the future: Gendered justifications of the Arctic fossil fuel industry

Polar Record ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohvi Kangasluoma
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Public Marketing ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Fossil Fuel Industry ◽  
Fuel Industry ◽  
Gas Fields ◽  
Opening Up

Abstract Despite the global alarm caused by accelerating climate change, hydrocarbon companies are exploring and opening up new oil and gas fields all over the world, including the Arctic. With increasing attention on the Arctic, companies address the growing global environmental pressure in their public marketing in various ways. This article examines the webpages of Norwegian Equinor and Russian Gazprom & Gazprom Neft. Building on feminist discussions, I analyse the different justification strategies these fossil fuel companies working in the Arctic utilise in order to support their ongoing operations. This article concludes that in order to justify their operations in the Arctic, the Norwegian and Russian companies emphasise values based on discourses that have historically and culturally been associated with masculine practices, such as the control of nature enabled by technology. These justifications are thus reinforcing the narrative of the Arctic as a territory to be conquered and mastered. Even though the companies operate in different sociopolitical contexts, the grounds of justification are rather similar. Their biggest differences occur in their visual presentations of gender, which I argue is part of the justification. Approaching the fossil fuel industry from a feminist perspective allows questioning the dominant conceptualisations, which the justifications of Arctic hydrocarbon companies are based on.

Determining factors of the unconsolidated rocks of Cenomanian reservoir on the Bolshekhetskaya depression

2021 ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
N. Yu. Moskalenkо
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Reservoir Rocks ◽  
Carbonate Cements ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Thermobaric Conditions ◽  
Gas Fields ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reserves

The relevance of the article is associated with the importance of the object of the research. Dozens of unique and giant oil and gas fields, such as Urengoyskoye, Medvezhye, Yamburgskoye, Vyngapurovskoye, Messoyakhskoye, Nakhodkinskoye, Russkoye, have been identified within the Cenomanian complex. The main feature of Cenomanian rocks is their slow rock cementation. This leads to significant difficulties in core sampling and the following studies of it; that is the direct and most informative source of data on the composition and properties of rocks that create a geological section.The identification of the factors, which determine the slow rock cementation of reservoir rocks, allows establishing a certain order in sampling and laboratory core studies. Consequently, reliable data on the reservoir and estimation of hydrocarbon reserves both of discovered and exploited fields and newly discovered fields that are being developed on the territory of the Gydan peninsula and the Bolshekhetskaya depression will be obtained. This study is also important for the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources of the continental shelf in the waters of the Arctic seas of Russia as one of the most promising areas.As a result of the analysis, it was found that the formation of rocks of the PK1-3 Cenomanian age of the Bolshekhetskaya depression happened under conditions of normal compaction of terrigenous sedimentary rocks that are located in the West Siberian basin. Slow rock cementation of reservoir rocks is associated with relatively low thermobaric conditions of their occurrence, as well as the low content of clay and absence of carbonate cements. Their lithological and petrophysical characteristics are close to the analogous Cenomanian deposits of the northern fields of Western Siberia and can be applied to other unconsolidated rocks studied areas.

scholarly journals Designing problems of oil fields infrustructre in the Arctic under the climate change

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-135
Author(s):  
Elena A. Poskonina ◽  
Anna N. Kurchatova
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Thermal Stabilization ◽  
Oil Fields ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Gas Fields ◽  
Forecast Modeling

Background. Designing problems of oil fields infrastructure in the Arctic under climate change, namely, applying of temperature coefficient when calculating bearing capacity, heaving of lightly loaded foundations, optimization of thermal stabilization solutions are presented in the article. Aim. To change the strategy for designing foundations on permafrost by choosing the worst soil conditions to the implementation of an invariant matrix for designing and construction of soil bases and foundations considering specifics of industrial facilities of oil and gas fields based on unified numerical calculations (regulations). Materials and methods. An overview of the current regulatory requirements to the design of foundations on permafrost is made. The analysis of forecast modeling of the temperature of soil bases of typical industrial facilities of oil and gas fields to justify design solutions and also the use of thermal stabilization systems is done. Results. It is proposed to develop a regional directory of weather stations with long observation period based on updated climate data to decrease the volume of designing work and the amount of mistakes in applying of thermal stabilization systems. It is necessary to create regional dynamic models of permafrost geosystems, implement forecast modeling of seasonal thawing potential depth and frozen ground temperature in natural landscapes on the base of geotechnical monitoring data and select adaptation methods to existing or expecting climate change trends. Conclusions. Regulations on designing and construction of soil bases and foundations on permafrost considering specifics of industrial facilities of oil and gas fields is an effective solution. It allows moving on the strategy implementation of uniform approaches to oil fields development on permafrost: from designing for every structure on the base of typical solutions and results of engineering surveys to invariant matrix of project solutions.

scholarly journals About this title - United Kingdom Oil and Gas Fields: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Volume

10.1144/m52 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. NP.1-NP
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
Reference Source ◽  
Geological Society ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Production History ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Gas Fields

Geological Society Memoir 52 records the extraordinary journey of more than 50 years that has led to the development of some 458 oil and gas fields on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). It contains papers on almost 150 onshore and offshore fields in all of the UK's main petroliferous basins. These papers range from look-backs on some of the first-developed gas fields in the Southern North Sea, to papers on fields that have only just been brought into production or may still remain undeveloped, and includes two candidate CO2 sequestration projects.These papers are intended to provide a consistent summary of the exploration, appraisal, development and production history of each field, leading to the current subsurface understanding which is described in greater detail. As such, the Memoir will be an enduring reference source for those exploring for, developing, producing hydrocarbons and sequestering CO2 on the UKCS in the coming decades. It encapsulates the petroleum industry's deep subsurface knowledge accrued over more than 50 years of exploration and production.

Statoil’S R&D Efforts Related To Development Of Oil And Gas Fields On The Arctic Shelf

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.T. Gudmestad ◽  
J.E. Vindstad ◽  
H. Greiff Johnsen ◽  
A.B. Zolotukhin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Shelf ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oil And Gas Fields ◽  
Gas Fields

Three years (2017-19) of field observation of the marginal ice the Western Barents Sea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Marchenko
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oil And Gas Exploration ◽  
Ice Floes ◽  
The University

<p>Knowledge of sea ice state (distribution, characteristics and movement) is interesting both from a practical point of view and for fundamental science. The western part of the Barents Sea is a region of increasing activity – oil and gas exploration may growth in addition to traditional fishing and transport. So theinformation is requested by industry and safety authorities.</p><p>Three last years (2017-19) the Arctic Technology Department of the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) performed expeditions on MS Polarsyssel in April in the sea ice-marginal zone of the Western Barents Sea, as a part of teaching and research program. In (Marchenko 2018), sea ice maps were compared with observed conditions. The distinguishing feature of ice in this region is the existence of relatively small ice floes (15-30 m wide) up to 5 m in thickness, containing consolidated ice ridges. In (Marchenko 2019) we described several such floes investigated by drilling, laser scanning and ice mechanical tests, on a testing station in the place with very shallow water (20 m) where ice concentrated. In this article, we summarise three years results with more attention for level ice floes and ice floe composition, continuing to feature ice condition in comparison with sea ice maps and satellite images.</p><p>These investigations provided a realistic characterization of sea ice in the region and are a valuable addition to the long-term studies of sea ice in the region performed by various institutions.</p>

On Maintainability of Winterised Plants Operating in Arctic Regions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoud Naseri
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Mathematical Framework ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Polar Low ◽  
Maintainability Analysis ◽  
Operation Risk ◽  
The Impact

In Arctic regions, oil and gas (O&G) operations are adversely affected by harsh weather conditions and severe meteorological phenomena such as icing storms and, in certain regions, polar low pressures. Potential solutions, such as implementing winterisation concepts, are explored in the design and even operation phases in order to overcome such obstacles. Simply, the main aim of winterisation is to provide the crew and equipment units with a range of normal environmental and working conditions through, for instance, insulating equipment units, installing heat tracers, enclosing working areas, providing the crew with adequate clothing, etc. There are, however, some concerns about the efficiency of such winterisation measures and potential changes in operation risk level, of which the changes in plant downtime, production loss, and plant maintainability are the focus of present study. The issue of complex effects of winterisation measures on maintainability analysis of O&G plants operating in the Arctic offshore has gained little attention in the literature. In this study, different aspects of winterisation from the viewpoint of equipment maintainability are discussed. Further, a mathematical framework for maintainability analysis of equipment units subjected to winterisation measures is proposed. The impact of winterisation-related downtimes on plant downtime is analysed as well by employing a Monte Carlo system simulation technique. The application of the proposed framework is illustrated by a case study. The results are further compared with those for a non-winterised system designed for normal-climate regions.

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