Design Aspects of Breakwaters for Cold Climate Oil and Gas Terminals

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Jimenez Puente ◽  
Ove Tobias Gudmestad
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Wave Period ◽  
Wave Parameter ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Mean Wave Period ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Selection For

This paper focuses on design aspects regarding breakwaters for cold climate terminals, in particular, the different types of berm breakwaters, their stability, armour mobility criteria and armour size. A methodology is analyzed in order to determine the mean weight of the heaviest armour class as a function of wave parameters such as the significant wave height and the mean wave period, both for non-reshaping and reshaping stable berm breakwaters. The influence of the wave period on the stone mass required will be of special importance in the discussion. This methodology will enable us to determine the required median armour weight for a specific wave parameter, being easily able to compare the feasibility of different concepts or availability of the required stone size at the location. As a case study, the breakwater selection for the Melkøya terminal in the Norwegian Barents Sea, is assessed through a comparison of the necessary armour unit masses for the different berm breakwaters. The armour mobility criteria currently established is reviewed and a recommendation for an updated criterion for the statically stable non-reshaped berm breakwater category is proposed.

Planning for Construction Work in Cold Climate Regions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ove T. Gudmestad ◽  
Daniel Karunakaran
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Construction Work ◽  
Oil And Gas Exploration ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Polar Low

With increased interests in oil and gas exploration in cold climate regions, it is not realistic that all construction activities can take place during the short summer and work will continue into the early fall and possibly later. The offshore contractors must, therefore, be ready to participate in construction work in these regions during an extended season, i.e. outside the summer season with milder weather conditions. It is also important that some key work-intensive activities (e.g. pipe laying) can start as early as possible in the season. This paper will discuss the challenges associated with construction work in cold climate regions with emphasis on the physical conditions, in particular with reference to Polar Low Pressures and the potential for icing, as well as the logistics of working long distances from established supply bases. Large uncertainties in weather forecasts call for proper management decisions accounting for the specifics of the area. Long periods of “waiting on weather” might result and management must have the patience to wait until safe operations can commence. Emphasis will be on the Barents Sea where recent hydrocarbon findings have proven very encouraging and where a huge area soon will be opened for exploration, following the agreement on the border between Norway and Russia, potentially calling for joint Norwegian–Russian construction projects (Bulakh et al., 2011).

Impacts of Cold Climate Environmental Conditions on a Riser System Design and Installation

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adekunle Peter Orimolade ◽  
Ove Tobias Gudmestad
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Climate Region ◽  
Probability Of Occurrence ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Development Concept

Interests in exploration and production of oil and gas in cold climate areas has increased in recent times. This can be attributed to the continual depletion of reserves in mature fields, and recent discoveries of large quantities of oil and gas in the cold climate region, including the more recent discovery of the Alta Reservoir, in the Barents Sea. However, marine operations in this region are faced with challenges resulting from its arctic conditions. Knowledge of the physical environment is important in designing offshore structures, and in planning, and executing marine operations. Selection of a suitable field development concept may be influenced by the probability of occurrence of rare events, such as drifting icebergs. Furthermore, occurrence of mesoscale phenomenon such as polar low pressures may adversely affect planned marine operations. In addition, uncertainties in weather forecasting will reflect on the available weather window to perform installation and interventions works. This paper presents some of the challenges in designing and planning for marine operations in the cold climate region. A possible field development concept for the open water areas of the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea is discussed. The current research work considers the need for further assessment of the probability of occurrence of drifting icebergs as of importance when selecting field development concept. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) is proposed, and this should be designed with an internal turret system that can be disconnected and reconnected. Some of the challenges associated with riser systems design when considering a turret system with the capability to disconnect and reconnect are discussed. This paper also propose the use of ensemble forecasts as an alternative to the use of alpha factors to estimate operational weather window when planning for marine operations in the Barents Sea. The unpredictability nature of the environmental conditions, especially in the early winter is considered a challenge to marine operations.

Prescriptive portfolio selection: a compromise between fast and slow thinking

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid Momen ◽  
Akbar Esfahanipour ◽  
Abbas Seifi
Keyword(s):  
Portfolio Selection ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Efficient Frontier ◽  
Fast System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Mean Variance ◽  
Prescriptive Analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a prescriptive portfolio selection (PPS) model based on a compromise between the idea of “fast” and “slow” thinking proposed by Kahneman. Design/methodology/approach“Fast” thinking is effortless and comfortable for investors, while “slow” thinking may result in better performance. These two systems are related to the first two types of analysis in the decision theory: descriptive, normative and prescriptive analysis. However, to compromise between “fast” and “slow” thinking, “overconfidence” is used as a weighting parameter. A case study including a sample of 161 active investors in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) is provided. Moreover, the feasibility and optimality of the model are discussed. FindingsResults show that the PPS recommendations are efficient with a shift from the mean-variance efficient frontier; investors prefer PPS portfolios over the advisor recommendations; and investors have no significant preference between PPS and their own expectations. Research limitations/implicationsTwo assumptions of this study include: first, investors follow their “fast” system of thinking by themselves. Second, the investors’ “slow” system of thinking is represented by advisor recommendations which are simple expected value of risk and return. Therefore, considering these two assumptions for any application is the main limitation of this study. Moreover, the authors did not have access to more investors in TSE or other financial markets. Originality/valueThis is the first study that includes overconfidence in modeling portfolio selection for the purpose of achieving a portfolio that has a reasonable performance and one that investors are comfortable with.

PARAMETERIZATION OF NONLINEAR WAVE TRANSFORMATION ABOVE UNDERWATER STRUCTURES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yana Saprykina ◽  
Yana Saprykina
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Wave ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Significant Wave Height ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Wave Period ◽  
Wave Transformation ◽  
Mean Wave Period ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Underwater Structure ◽  
Underwater Structures

On the base of laboratory experiment a nonlinear wave transformation above underwater reef and trench was investigated. It was revealed that underwater trench and reef can decrease the mean wave period. Dependencies of changes of mean wave period and significant wave height on relative length of underwater structure and water depth above it were obtained. The changes of symmetry of waves passing above underwater structures are discussed.

PARAMETERIZATION OF NONLINEAR WAVE TRANSFORMATION ABOVE UNDERWATER STRUCTURES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yana Saprykina ◽  
Yana Saprykina
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Wave ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Significant Wave Height ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Wave Period ◽  
Wave Transformation ◽  
Mean Wave Period ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Underwater Structure ◽  
Underwater Structures

On the base of laboratory experiment a nonlinear wave transformation above underwater reef and trench was investigated. It was revealed that underwater trench and reef can decrease the mean wave period. Dependencies of changes of mean wave period and significant wave height on relative length of underwater structure and water depth above it were obtained. The changes of symmetry of waves passing above underwater structures are discussed.

scholarly journals The Norwegian ecosystem-based management plan for the Barents Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Olsen ◽  
Harald Gjøsæter ◽  
Ingolf Røttingen ◽  
Are Dommasnes ◽  
Petter Fossum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Health Production ◽  
Ecosystem Based Management ◽  
The Barents Sea

Abstract Olsen, E., Gjøsæter, H., Røttingen, I., Dommasnes, A., Fossum, P., and Sandberg, P. 2007. The Norwegian ecosystem-based management plan for the Barents Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 599–602. In April 2006, the Norwegian government launched a White Paper on a new holistic management plan for the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea, including the fishery protection zone around Svalbard. Following international guidelines for ecosystem-based management, the plan provides an overall framework for managing all human activities (oil and gas industry, fishing, and shipping) in the area to ensure the continued health, production, and function of the Barents Sea ecosystem. The primary function of area-based management is the identification of areas of special importance from either ecological or human perspectives. In each area, access for different human activities is to be carefully managed. The plan is based on an assessment of the current and anticipated impact of human activities and of the interactions between them, taking into account deficits in current knowledge of ecosystem state and dynamics. To monitor the overall development of the Barents Sea's state of health, a set of indicators with associated environmental quality objectives has been developed.

Decision on oil and gas exploration in an Arctic area: Case study from the Norwegian Barents Sea

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 832-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Rytter Hasle ◽  
Urban Kjellén ◽  
Ole Haugerud
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Oil And Gas Exploration ◽  
Arctic Area

Decoration technique and surface physics

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 436-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Bethge
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Path ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Surface Physics ◽  
Step Structure ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Atomic Surface ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Bulk Structure ◽  
Decoration Technique

Besides the atomic surface structure, diverging in special cases with respect to the bulk structure, the real structure of a surface Is determined by the step structure. Using the decoration technique /1/ it is possible to image step structures having step heights down to a single lattice plane distance electron-microscopically. For a number of problems the knowledge of the monatomic step structures is important, because numerous problems of surface physics are directly connected with processes taking place at these steps, e.g. crystal growth or evaporation, sorption and nucleatlon as initial stage of overgrowth of thin films.To demonstrate the decoration technique by means of evaporation of heavy metals Fig. 1 from our former investigations shows the monatomic step structure of an evaporated NaCI crystal. of special Importance Is the detection of the movement of steps during the growth or evaporation of a crystal. From the velocity of a step fundamental quantities for the molecular processes can be determined, e.g. the mean free diffusion path of molecules.

Varied Responses to Human-Induced Seismicity in the City of Azle, Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sarmistha R. Majumdar
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
The Status

Fracking has helped to usher in an era of energy abundance in the United States. This advanced drilling procedure has helped the nation to attain the status of the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world, but some of its negative externalities, such as human-induced seismicity, can no longer be ignored. The occurrence of earthquakes in communities located at proximity to disposal wells with no prior history of seismicity has shocked residents and have caused damages to properties. It has evoked individuals’ resentment against the practice of injection of fracking’s wastewater under pressure into underground disposal wells. Though the oil and gas companies have denied the existence of a link between such a practice and earthquakes and the local and state governments have delayed their responses to the unforeseen seismic events, the issue has gained in prominence among researchers, affected community residents, and the media. This case study has offered a glimpse into the varied responses of stakeholders to human-induced seismicity in a small city in the state of Texas. It is evident from this case study that although individuals’ complaints and protests from a small community may not be successful in bringing about statewide changes in regulatory policies on disposal of fracking’s wastewater, they can add to the public pressure on the state government to do something to address the problem in a state that supports fracking.

Shale Resources, Parks Conservation, and Contested Public Lands in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Is Fracking Booming?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Miriam R. Aczel ◽  
Karen E. Makuch
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Theodore Roosevelt ◽  
Natural Beauty ◽  
Theodore Roosevelt National Park ◽  
Bakken Shale

This case study analyzes the potential impacts of weakening the National Park Service’s (NPS) “9B Regulations” enacted in 1978, which established a federal regulatory framework governing hydrocarbon rights and extraction to protect natural resources within the parks. We focus on potential risks to national parklands resulting from Executive Orders 13771—Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs [1]—and 13783—Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth [2]—and subsequent recent revisions and further deregulation. To establish context, we briefly overview the history of the United States NPS and other relevant federal agencies’ roles and responsibilities in protecting federal lands that have been set aside due to their value as areas of natural beauty or historical or cultural significance [3]. We present a case study of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) situated within the Bakken Shale Formation—a lucrative region of oil and gas deposits—to examine potential impacts if areas of TRNP, particularly areas designated as “wilderness,” are opened to resource extraction, or if the development in other areas of the Bakken near or adjacent to the park’s boundaries expands [4]. We have chosen TRNP because of its biodiversity and rich environmental resources and location in the hydrocarbon-rich Bakken Shale. We discuss where federal agencies’ responsibility for the protection of these lands for future generations and their responsibility for oversight of mineral and petroleum resources development by private contractors have the potential for conflict.

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