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.

Polar Lows and Their Implications on Marine Operations: Survivability Criteria

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meric Pakkan ◽  
David Heng ◽  
Ove Tobias Gudmestad
Keyword(s):  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Return Periods ◽  
Polar Lows ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
The North ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Polar Low

The oil resource potential in the Arctic/sub-Arctic regions is estimated to be as high as that 25% of the world’s yet-to-be-found. Nevertheless, operating in above-mentioned regions is more complicated and expensive than the ones in the North Sea. One of the most important aspects to consider in operating in these Arctic regions is the presence of polar lows and arctic fronts and storms. These extreme events and implications of them on the marine operations were the main focus of this study. While the maximum polar low-sourced wind speeds for 10-, 20- and 100-year return periods are estimated to be 55.37, 60.93 and 73.52 knots, the maximum polar low-sourced wave heights for 10-, 20- and 100-year return periods are calculated as 5.71, 6.66 and 8.82 meters, respectively. It is found out that polar lows weather conditions do not normally represent design values (survival conditions); however, they represent operational limitations. • We conclude that operations lasting longer than 72 hours shall be designed for a rougher weather than the polar lows lead to (survival mode). • For operations of duration less than 72 hours, the weather forecast is crucial and it must also be possible to abort the operation within a short period if one is close to a polar weather front as a polar low may appear very quickly.

Consideration of Geopolitical Challenges within the Analysis of Geoenvironmental Risks for Oil and Gas Development of the Russian Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Geopolitical Risks

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

Backbone for Escape, Evacuation and Rescue From Arctic Facilities: A Systematic Approach

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Longrée ◽  
Sven Hoog
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Operating Personnel ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Joint Research Project ◽  
Arctic Ice ◽  
The Impact

In turn of the global warming and driven by the constant need for resources an increasing number of commercial and scientific activities conquer the Arctic in order to benefit from almost untouched resources like oil and gas but also from the overwhelming nature. These activities are accompanied by a steadily increasing number of vessels transporting goods but also operating personnel, scientists or tourists. Especially the number of tourists visiting the Arctic can reach far more than 1000 per vessel, resulting in growing headaches for the responsible safety and security authorities in the Arctic surrounding countries. Up to now no suitable Escape, Evacuation and Rescue (EER) concept is in place to cope with these challenges when it comes to hazardous situations. In this context IMPaC ([1]) developed a new and appropriate EER concept for the Arctic, exceeding the currently dominant small and isolated settlements along the coastlines in Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, Canada and the US. One question seems to be central: Is there any requirement and benefit beyond the currently used small rescue station? Yes, we strongly believe that there is a growing demand for suitable infrastructure coming from various industries. Beyond rescue objectives there is a demand for people working and living in this area all year long, for a few days, weeks or months using these settlements for their specific needs. This led us to the idea of the provision of a common-use infrastructure for multiple industries. The commonly used infrastructure maximizes the use of the remote and very expensive infrastructure and minimizes the impact on the environment in this part of the world. Potential users of this infrastructure would be: • Oil & Gas Industry, driven by the increased world energy demand • Marine Transport & Tourism Industry, driven by declined arctic ice and new sea routes via the Arctic sea • Fishery Industry • Scientific community Any EER concept for the Arctic has to cope with several specific environmental and spatial challenges as addressed by the EU joint research project ACCESS ([2]), where IMPaC participates. The paper introduces the new EER concept and focuses especially on its beneficial, efficient and safe operability in the Arctic recording an increasing number of commercial and scientific activities.

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).

The influence of chick production on territory retention in Arctic-breeding Pacific and Yellow-billed loons

The Condor ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D Uher-Koch ◽  
Kenneth G Wright ◽  
Joel A Schmutz
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Site Familiarity ◽  
Northern Alaska ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Adult birds may use the production of offspring as a measure of habitat quality when prospecting for territories, increasing competition for productive territories. We evaluated the impact of breeding success on territory retention of Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed (G. adamsii) loons in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska on the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska using mark–resight data and multi-state modeling. We also used behavioral observations of brood-rearing adult loons to quantify the frequency of visits by prospecting loons. We hypothesized that increased competition for productive territories would result in a decrease in territory retention rates. Territory retention rates the year following successful breeding attempts were only slightly lower (0.90) than after failed breeding attempts (0.93), and few territories were consistently successful across years. Overall territory retention rates were high (0.92) and similar for both species, suggesting that adults were able to defend their territories successfully. Males had higher territory retention rates than females, but we found no influence of mass (a possible proxy for fighting ability) on territory retention. These observations, coupled with the high frequency of visits by prospecting loons, provide additional evidence that site familiarity may provide advantages to territory holders. Quantifying territory retention behaviors may also inform land management decisions for oil and gas development in areas where loons are present. High territory retention rates, frequency of visits by prospectors, and limited habitat where new territories can be established suggest that breeding habitat in northern Alaska is saturated and may be limiting Yellow-billed Loon populations. In contrast, Pacific Loons attempting to acquire a territory may be able to form new territories on smaller, unoccupied lakes.

scholarly journals Socially acceptable consumer budget in the Arctic regions of Russia

POPULATION ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
Elena G. Zlenko
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Scientific School ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Subsistence Minimum ◽  
The Social ◽  
Methodological Principles ◽  
The Impact

The need for accelerated social and economic development of the Arctic as a priority geostrategic territory of the Russian Federation requires a special approach to the issues of incomes of the population of the Arctic regions, and, above all, to the social criterion. Foreign experience in formation of minimum consumer budgets, domestic developments in this area and methodological principles of its formation used for a living wage have determined the priorities in choosing a social criterion. The key role in addressing this issue is played by the system of low-income consumer budgets (the subsistence minimum (SM) and the socially acceptable (recovery) consumer budget, which exceeds the subsistence minimum by about 3 times) within the framework of the general classification of the system of normative consumer budgets developed by the scientific school of the All-Russian Center for Living Standards. The methodological basis for formation of a socially acceptable consumer budget is determined by the provisions based on the recovery level of population consumption in conjunction with low incomes and taking into account the satisfaction of material, spiritual and social needs, a variety of consumer properties and benefits, as well as the impact on the consumption characteristics of the natural, climatic, economic, social and other special factors of the Arctic. Important for the social criterion qualities — validity and transparency — are ensured through application of the normative method of forming a socially acceptable consumer basket, which includes sets of food products, non-food goods and services. The normative socially acceptable consumer budget is differentiated by the specific of consumption of different categories of the population that is reflected in the structure and volume of consumption. The size of the socially acceptable consumer budget is determined by the cost of the consumer basket, as well as expenses on savings and mandatory payments and fees. Regional differences in the factors influencing the formation of a socially acceptable consumer budget cause territorial diversity in the level of the indicator in the Arctic zone.

scholarly journals Digitalization in Education and Distance Barriers in the Russian Arctic: Problems and Prospects

2021 ◽  
pp. 144-160
Author(s):  
Natalya V. DYADIK ◽  
◽  
Anastasiya N. CHAPARGINA ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Active Dissemination ◽  
Labor Resources ◽  
Impact Of Urbanization ◽  
The Impact

In the era of digital technologies, the issues of providing highly qualified personnel, the effective use of the intellectual potential of the territory and the creation of conditions for its reproduction are of particular importance. These problems are more acute in remote areas of the Russian Arctic. This is due, firstly, to the ultradispersity of the settlement system in the Arctic of the Russian Federation, and, secondly, to the imbalance between the demand and supply of labor resources in territorial and professional terms. Digitalization has become an integral component of education all over the world; therefore, the purpose of this article is to assess the availability of education in the regions of the Russian Arctic and to search for new targets for quality education in the context of digital transformation. The existing educational environment in the Arctic regions is analyzed in the article. The impact of urbanization degree on affordable education in remote Arctic regions is assessed. The financial capabilities of the population are investigated. Based on the analysis, a number of problems associated with the active dissemination of new technologies are identified. Recommendations for improving the educational process are given, taking into account the digitalization of society. The main stages of modernization of the educational process in remote regions of the Arctic are identified.

scholarly journals EFFICIENCY OF USING REMOTE METHODS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC (ON THE EXAMPLE OF OIL AND GAS COMPANIES)

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (4/2020) ◽  
pp. 126-139
Author(s):  
A. E. Cherepovitsyn ◽  
◽  
D. M. Metkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Ecological Situation ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
The Impact

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) is characterized by the fragility of the ecosystem, the slightest violation of which can lead to catastrophic negative consequences on a global scale. Due to the availability of production facilities of various scales and environmental safety classes within the territorial and aquatic Arctic, the risk of negative impact on the environment is very significant. In order to prevent possible environmental damage within the AZRF, it is advisable to carry out activities related to the implementation of continuous monitoring of the environment aimed at detecting sources that pose a potential threat to the ecosystem. Taking into account the harsh Arctic climate, the lack of the possibility of year-round land access to industrial facilities located in the Russian Arctic, the scale and peculiarities of the implementation of Arctic offshore projects for the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons, the length and congestion of the used logistic artery - the Northern Sea Route, the choice of means, which are used for monitoring the ecological situation is justified by their mobility and efficiency. In particular, such means include technologies that allow remote monitoring of the environmental situation of industrial facilities. The article outlines the role of remote methods of environmental monitoring and control in the system of environmental protection measures of the Russian Arctic, presents methods for assessing the impact of industrial facilities of the oil and gas complex (OGC) on the environment of the Russian Arctic, presents the results of assessing the effectiveness of using remote methods of environmental monitoring of industrial facilities for the production and processing of hydrocarbons (HC) in the AZRF. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the substantiation of the ecological and economic feasibility of using the methods of remote monitoring of the ecological situation in the Arctic.

scholarly journals Ecological and hygienic problems in the Arctic territories of intensive industrial activity (review)

Public Health ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
A. B. Gudkov ◽  
G. N. Degteva ◽  
O. A. Shepeleva
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Industrial Activity ◽  
Shift Workers ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Production Factors ◽  
Arctic Conditions ◽  
Fundamental Research ◽  
Scientific Substantiation ◽  
The Impact

The Goal. To analyze the literature on the impact of high latitude climate on human health, as well as consider some aspects of adaptation to Arctic conditions and nutritional issues for the population and shift workers.Methods. Review of the articles placed in the bibliographic and abstract databases of VINITI, CyberLeninka, RSCI, Scopus, WoS, on the study of environmental and hygienic problems in the Arctic territories, where intense industrial activity is carried out. The following keywords were used: Arctic territories, adaptation, watch, food.Results. Long-term fundamental research has established that a complex of unfavorable and extreme natural and climatic factors in the Arctic causes two main syndromes in humans – “polar tension” and “northern tissue hypoxia”. Adaptation of new settlers in the Arctic territories proceeds in three stages. The duration of the shift period must have a physiological and hygienic justification and correspond to the duration of the period of stable working capacity. In high latitudes, it is especially important to develop diets and food products for various groups of the population and shift workers in relation to the specifics of their work in the Arctic regionsConclusions. Among the main environmental and hygienic problems of the Arctic territories, where intense industrial activity is carried out, it is necessary to highlight the tasks of scientific substantiation of rational modes of work and rest of workers in rotational forms of work. Also it’s necessary to define the quantitative and qualitative composition of food rations recommended for nutrition of various groups of the population, in relation to the specifics of production factors.

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