Communications Challenges in the Arctic: Oil and Gas Operations Perspective

Author(s):  
Tu Dac Ho ◽  
Kay Fjørtoft

Challenges when operating offshore systems in the Arctic were addressed and analyzed from general data communications systems to distress communications systems. Two methodologies were developed with tools for estimating: a) Rainfall rate in the worst case as well as the degradation due to the highest rainfall rate to link budget of typical satellite links; b) Performance of any service at a given geographical area or location. The evaluations were for diversified inputs such as geographical locations were ranging from further south to high North; the most typical satellite communications systems in the region; and an abundant list of services dedicated to offshore Oil and Gas industry, the paper has provided a wide range list of results and recommendations when analyzing services performances from low to high latitudes and west to east longitudes. An important conclusion was that voice-relevant services were not working fine for both Inmarsat and VSAT from the latitude of 73.5 degree North regardless of the bandwidth of the satellite when assuming the deadline for these voice packets was one second. These services can be partially of fully satisfied by Inmarsat or VSAT depends on the bandwidth provided if working below that latitude. For file transfer services, it is possible to guarantee a certain satisfactory ratio at high latitude provided a compensation for bandwidth. The paper1 also provides other numerical results in regarding of link compensation that can be used for new satellite link purpose.

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 182-185
Author(s):  
Ben C. Gerwick

Rapidly expanding development is taking place in the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas of Alaska and Canada, driven by the discovery of immense resources of oil and gas and favorable geophysical conditions in adjoining areas. The Arctic regions are dominated by sea ice, from the central polar pack to the pressure ridges and rubble piles that form in the shear zone along the periphery. In the east, adjoining Labrador and Newfoundland, icebergs are encountered. Storm waves and surges during the summer, strong seismicity in certain areas, and weak and construction-difficult soils in many areas combine to make the design and construction of platforms abnormally difficult. Existing platforms for offshore exploration include sand and gravel islands in shallow-water areas, floating drillships accompanied by icebreakers, a concrete-caisson-retained island in the Canadian Beaufort Sea, and a converted VLCC, grounded on a prepared embankment and given additional protection by artificially constructed ice rubble. At the present time, two steel caissons, designed to be filled with sand after founding, and one floating drilling structure are under construction. In the design and planning stage are a number of new concepts for caissons, mostly constructed of prestressed lightweight concrete, designed to resist global forces in the range of 150 000 kips or more and local concentrated forces of 800 to 1000 psi over small areas. Prestressed lightweight concrete appears well suited to the demands of Arctic service. The towing, deployment, founding, and subsequent removal of exploratory platforms demands consideration of a wide variety of naval architectural aspects. One of the more critical areas facing designers is how to determine the forces and displacements caused by impact from a large ice floe or berg. The compliance of the structure and the hydrodynamic dissipation of kinetic energy need to be considered, as well as the crushing of the ice. The successful development of the Arctic demands consideration not only of a wide range of engineering and naval architectural aspects but also their integration with ecological, social, political and economic considerations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1201 (1) ◽  
pp. 012059
Author(s):  
L B Hætta Myrmel ◽  
O T Gudmestad

Abstract The rapid warming climate is causing the Arctic ice to retreat and the permafrost to melt. These visible manifestations of the ongoing climate change are few of many environmental and societal changes that take place in the Arctic. The acceleration of digitalization and implementation of digital technology bring new opportunities to follow the consequences of the warmer arctic climate, but also introduces new challenges in this region as the dependency on the digital technology increases. This paper focuses on the cyber ecosystem and discusses digital technology available for monitoring the consequences of a warming Arctic and its impact on Critical Infrastructure (CI) in Norway, such as communication networks, electric power transfer systems, water and wastewater, transportation infrastructure, oil and gas infrastructure. The need for reliable satellite communications is emphasized.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Robinson ◽  
William Gardiner ◽  
Richard J. Wenning ◽  
Mary Ann Rempel-Hester

ABSTRACT #2017-351 When there is risk for oil release into the marine environment, the priority for planners and responders is to protect human health and to minimize environmental impacts. The selection of appropriate response option(s) depends upon a wide range of information including data on the fate and behavior of oil and treated oil, the habitats and organisms that are potentially exposed, and the potential for effects and recovery following exposure. Spill Impact Management Assessment (SIMA; a refinement of Net Environmental Benefits Analysis, or NEBA, in the context of oil spill response) and similar comparative risk assessment (CRA) approaches provide responders a systematic method to compare and contrast the relative environmental benefits and consequences of different response alternatives. Government and industry stakeholders have used this approach increasingly in temperate and subtropical regions to establish environmental protection priorities and identify response strategies during planning that minimize impacts and maximize the potential for environmental recovery. Historically, the ability to conduct CRA-type assessments in the Arctic has been limited by insufficient information relevant to oil-spill response decision making. However, with an increased interest in shipping and oil and gas development in the Arctic, a sufficiently robust scientific and ecological information base is emerging in the Arctic that can support meaningful SIMA. Based on a summary of over 3,000 literature references on Arctic ecosystems and the fate and effects of oil and treated oil in the Arctic, we identify key input parameters supporting a SIMA evaluation of oil spill response in the Arctic and introduce a web portal developed to facilitate access to the literature and key considerations supporting SIMA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 1325-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Robinson ◽  
William Gardiner ◽  
Richard J. Wenning ◽  
Mary Ann Rempel-Hester

ABSTRACT #2017-351 When there is risk for oil release into the marine environment, the priority for planners and responders is to protect human health and to minimize environmental impacts. The selection of appropriate response option(s) depends upon a wide range of information including data on the fate and behavior of oil and treated oil, the habitats and organisms that are potentially exposed, and the potential for effects and recovery following exposure. Spill Impact Management Assessment (SIMA; a refinement of Net Environmental Benefits Analysis, or NEBA, in the context of oil spill response) and similar comparative risk assessment (CRA) approaches provide responders a systematic method to compare and contrast the relative environmental benefits and consequences of different response alternatives. Government and industry stakeholders have used this approach increasingly in temperate and subtropical regions to establish environmental protection priorities and identify response strategies during planning that minimize impacts and maximize the potential for environmental recovery. Historically, the ability to conduct CRA-type assessments in the Arctic has been limited by insufficient information relevant to oil-spill response decision making. However, with an increased interest in shipping and oil and gas development in the Arctic, a sufficiently robust scientific and ecological information base is emerging in the Arctic that can support meaningful SIMA. Based on a summary of over 3,000 literature references on Arctic ecosystems and the fate and effects of oil and treated oil in the Arctic, we identify key input parameters supporting a SIMA evaluation of oil spill response in the Arctic and introduce a web portal developed to facilitate access to the literature and key considerations supporting SIMA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin

The article is devoted to the consideration of geopolitical challenges for the analysis of geoenvironmental risks (GERs) in the hydrocarbon development of the Arctic territory. Geopolitical risks (GPRs), like GERs, can be transformed into opposite external environment factors of oil and gas industry facilities in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. This is necessary for further development of methodological base of expert methods for GER management in the context of the implementational proposed two-stage model of the GER analysis taking to account GPR for the improvement of effectiveness making decisions to ensure optimal operation of the facility oil and gas industry and minimize the impact on the environment in the geopolitical conditions of the Arctic.The authors declare no conflict of interest


Author(s):  
O. Koudelka ◽  
M. Flohberger ◽  
W. Kogler ◽  
M. Schmidt ◽  
J. Ebert

Author(s):  
M.A. Magomedgadzhieva ◽  
◽  
G.S. Oganov ◽  
I.B. Mitrofanov ◽  
A.M. Karpov ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Alexander Danilov ◽  
...  

Every aspect of human operations faces a wide range of risks, some of which can cause serious consequences. By the start of 21st century, mankind has recognized a new class of risks posed by climate change. It is obvious, that the global climate is changing, and will continue to change, in ways that affect the planning and day to day operations of businesses, government agencies and other organizations and institutions. The manifestations of climate change include but not limited to rising sea levels, increasing temperature, flooding, melting polar sea ice, adverse weather events (e.g. heatwaves, drought, and storms) and a rise in related problems (e.g. health and environmental). Assessing and managing climate risks represent one of the most challenging issues of today and for the future. The purpose of the risk modeling system discussed in this paper is to provide a framework and methodology to quantify risks caused by climate change, to facilitate estimates of the impact of climate change on various spheres of human activities and to compare eventual adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. The system integrates both physical climate system and economic models together with knowledge-based subsystem, which can help support proactive risk management. System structure and its main components are considered. Special attention is paid to climate risk assessment, management and hedging in the Arctic coastal areas.


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