Engineering and geocryological monitoring of permafrost rocks to ensure safe operation of the offshore oil loading complex in the Arctic

Abstract


Oil production in the Arctic is associated with the risk of accidental oil spills. In this regard, the sensitivity of the Arctic environment to oil pollution and its extremely low resilience are of growing concern. Apparently an effective environmental management system is needed to ensure safe operation of the petroleum facilities in this area. The article presents a case study of the Varandey terminal, which is a unique facility located beyond the Arctic Circle, in the permafrost zone, on the coast of the Barents Sea. The terminal combines an onshore tank farm, an offshore loading facility and an underwater pipeline connecting them. The extreme environment of the Far North (permafrost, low temperatures, long high water floods) complicates the engineering and geological conditions of the oil infrastructure facilities. Their safe operation is largely determined by the structural features of the upper part of the terrain and its stability. What in its turn, depends on the permafrost condition. Changes in the thermal regime of the frozen rocks in the foundation of the facilities during their operation trigger dangerous engineering and geocryological processes. As practice has shown, now and then it leads to emergencies at the petroleum facilities with severe logistical, environmental, social, financial and economic consequences. Working out a technology to control the thermal regime of the foundation soils to ensure reliable and safe operation of the engineering facilities of the coastal and marine oil loading complex is among the most essential and pressing necessities of the petroleum industry in the region. Engineering and geocryological monitoring is one of the effective tools to address this issue. It also allows mitigating the potential environmental and economic damage. The conducted research substantiates the relevance of creating a geocryological monitoring system for continuous control over the frozen soils beneath the facilities in order to detect troubles at an early stage of their development. The main elements of the system are presented. Two types of foundations are considered that are designed to maintain the temperature of the soil beneath the facilities within acceptable limits.

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About the authors

D. V Burkov

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov; Varandey terminal

M. G Gubaidullin

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov; N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

A. V Kalashnikov

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov

O. V Kraineva

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov

N. V Bagretsova

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov

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