The Arctic Battle Commences

Due to global warming the Arctic area has become an exiting point of untapped resources. According to reports 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil can be drilled here. Furthermore, the famous North- West Passage could become the new, and ultimately shorter, route to the Far East. These interesting options have increased the research done to working in the harsh environment of the Arctic. “It will be the future”, states Gabriel Lodewijks, vice-dean of the faculty of mechanical, maritime and material engineering at Technical University Delft. “Should we envisage this journey as a battle, or is that too negative and are we only challenging ourselves?”

On 8 March 2012 the first Dutch Arctic symposium was held at TU Delft, the Netherlands. Nine companies offered their insights within three different sessions on the various topics regarding the Arctic. “It is the proper topic and the proper timing. We hope to be able to discuss the challenges and look toward solutions”, explains Mirek Kaminski, professor of ship and offshore structures at TU Delft and organiser of the symposium.

Arctic Oil and Gas

Session one focused on the many ways of researching the possibilities of working in the Arctic. Lucia van Geuns, deputy director of Clingendael International Energy programme of the Clingendael Institute, kick-started the day: “The Arctic offers us the possibility of reaching untapped resources and shortening our seafaring routes, yet we are dealing with ice, cold, permafrost and sensitive eco-systems. Global warming is the cause that is allowing us to delve into this new industry.” Furthermore, she explained that there is the delicate matter of who actually ‘owns’ the Arctic. The Russians planted a Russian flag at 4,000 metres depth to show their claim over the Arctic. They are, however, not the only country to claim heritage  over this part of the world. Canada has vowed to start building facilities in the Arctic and also the United States and Greenland have laid their claim. “The fact of the matter is that although many sustainable fuels are up and coming, coal, gas and oil will remain our primary fuels until at least 2035”, comments Van Geuns. “Reaching untapped resources in the Arctic could mean for the USA, for instance, that they solely can supply their country and will no longer need to rely on unstable countries for the supply of fuel. I fear however that deepwater drilling will require more regulation, which will be costly. Will this be the final frontier? The USA, Canada, Russia, Alaska and Greenland all have plans to explore this area. Oil will become a strategic commodity.”

Fundamental challenges in ice-structure interaction

Another vital challenge, pointed out during the ‘Unresolved issues in ice-structure interactions’ presentation, by Andrei Metrikine, professor at TU Delft, is that it is not yet known how ice behaves and as of yet, we do not have the correct way of researching this. Metrikine: “Ice is always in motion, which offers a huge problem as we discovered that a scale model in tested ice conditions does not at all behave in the same manner in real life. When ice crushes on to a structure, the added damping and added mass are enormous. Ice changes the actual shape and movement of a structure in such a manner that dynamic positioning no longer works. There is simply not enough power in our current machines to keep the vessel in position.”

Structures and the movement of ice

The first session was concluded with the ‘Numerical modeling of ice and ice structure interactions’ by Jeroen Hoving, assistant professor at TU Delft. He explained: “We are interested in the loads on offshore structures in the Arctic due to interactions with ice. Our focus is mainly on interactions with first- year ice, as it is a relatively homogeneous and common ice feature at locations considered for development. Yet, ice is not straightforward. Ice is a natural material with a variable shape that behaves differently at different scales, which explains why there are enormous differences seen between the results of scale model tests and full-scale data. At this point in time, ice- structure interaction models do not capture the necessary phenomena.”

Applied research

“The exploration of oil and gas in the Arctic requires various types of services such as consultancy on ice, feasibility studies, design, engineering support and operational support. These services can however only partially be provided today”, explains Hannes Bogaert, who held the first presentation on ‘Marin’s activities in ice’ of session two which was aimed at applied research. Bogaert, who is head of the hydro-structural services section at MARIN, elaborates on this gap by taking on the viewpoint of many offshore engineering companies today in the Netherlands: expert designers in offshore structure however lacking expertise in designing structures for Arctic operations. “The designer is lacking today knowledge of ice to define design conditions. Reliable numerical models as extension of today’s design tools, ice model tests and experienced people.” Bogaert went on to explain that MARIN is teaming up and gearing up to provide ice model tests at a partner facility, in-service measurements, numerical models and simulator training. MARIN co-operates with NRC-Oceanic in Canada to provide ice model tests, with NIOZ on in-service measurements and with DNV, TU Delft, CRS partners and the partners of Arctic Operations Handbook on numerical modeling. “One of the key success factors of developing numerical models is reliable validation.” Bogaert explained that ice model tests are not the best technique for validation since the model ice cannot be reproduced twice.

“We are developing a validation technique with increased repeatability and modular scaled physical properties.”

Music and research

“You can write the score to music and you can build the instruments, but being able to make the music is what applied science does”, states Lex Vredeveldt, senior scientist at TNO, during his presentation on ‘The Arctic challenge for men’. “The Arctic has become home to tourism, but there are also other kinds of money. Yet you have to remember it is dangerous there. There is no help, no rescue and no maintenance. Reliability of equipments must increase, because you are on your own out there.” Vredeveldt wanted to point out that innovation in regards to drilling, equipment and short cuts are all viable, but he wanted the human aspect to become part of the equation of the Arctic challenges. “Vibration and noise are all aspects that can be harmful to vessels, yet we forget the human psyche. Do we want to go to the Arctic? Should we?”, questions Vredeveldt. “The psychological risks are huge, not to mention the environmental risks. We need to base our Arctic venture on risk analysis and make sure that we stay within certain rules and regulations to ensure safety for our vessels, cargo, environment and the human capital.”

Class views on the Arctic

The second session was concluded with a presentation on ‘Class view on Arctic development’ by Martijn Nieuwenhuijs who is technical director of North Europe at Bureau Veritas. “Global warming has created possibilities. The North-West Passage could mean you will have to travel only 7,350 miles to the Far-East versus the current 11,250 miles it takes to get there now”, advocates Nieuwenhuijs. “Before we venture out we must realise that there will be many challenges in this extreme climate. We have developed software that will help designing vessels, based on basic assumptions we have of the ice.” Nieuwenhuijs reiterates that only a handful of companies have specific ice knowledge. “Based on the research that we know of, to design for the Arctic, it is important to set certain rules. With further research the industry can make more efficient structures for Arctic projects.”

Applications

Fundamental and applied research aside, the participants of the symposium were ready to hear more about some of the applications that are already venturing to the Arctic. First up was Alain Wassink, design manager vessels of GustoMSC, who presented the ‘Offshore exploration in the Arctic’ presentation: “We might feel like we have been there and done that, but I am afraid…not quite. We must be prepared to be able to support the many expenses that are involved with the Arctic. The often mentioned difficulties are real, the ice, the cold at around minus 55 degrees Celsius, the shallowness of the waters, the fact that it is a remote location and not forgetting the pristine and vulnerable environment we wish to go to. When we do go, we must do so in a safe and responsible manner.” Wassink made a point of the high investments necessary for this industry. An option would be to have a multi-purpose vessel that could be in the Arctic in the summer season and could move to other regions on the winter months, as drilling in the Arctic is simply impossible during the winter season. “Unfortunately the costs of transporting the rig or vessel will be even more costly, so to make the necessary return on investment, you will need to prolong your season in the Arctic”, explains Wassink. GustoMSC have developed a matrix in which it became apparent which vessels would be able to go to the Arctic and which would be less feasible. The company developed the NanuQ, a 5,000 ton vessel with dynamic positioning. The vessel is completely covered up to ensure safety for not only the crew on board, but also the equipment.

Sakhalin

The second presentation saw the realisation of the largest integrated O&G project in the Arctic by Pieter Swart of Shell, during his presentation of ‘The Arctic aspects in the design and installation of the 240 kilometre Piltun pipelines in Sakhalin, Russia’. Sakhalin II (in which Shell is a shareholder) has three platforms in the sea of Ochotsk, East Siberia, with dual oil and gas pipelines running the length of the Sakhalin Island towards a production facility. Swart: “The area is subarctic, with one year ice that is maximum 1.5 metres thick. One of the platforms already existed and we built two more. All was safely and successfully delivered in one season, thanks to the hard work of many. Today the platforms in Sakhalin are safely producing and have boosted the employment around the area.”

Arctic drilling unit

Alexei Bereznitski, section head of naval architecture at Huisman, closed the symposium with his presentation on ‘The design of the Arctic mobile offshore drilling unit’. Bereznitski: “The design of our JBF Arctic was established after much research. The round shape of the unit is based on the fact that the ice can approach the unit from any direction The drilling unit allows exploitation of the unit at two operating drafts. The advantages of the semi-submersible aspect being the low motion of the unit in waves and the heavily strengthened ice resistant aspect allows the unit to operate in ice at deep draft. Bereznitski concludes: “We also have two drilling units on board, as the unit requires a heavy investment, we want to ensure a return on it.”

We have all heard of the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz who ventured to the Arctic and reached the west coast of Nova Zembla in 1594. Perhaps not the best example, as we all know how his story ended. Yet, it does show that the Dutch dare to venture out, and are thus game enough to take on a challenge like the Arctic. During this first Dutch Arctic symposium it has become clear that this will be no easy task, even contemplating if it should at all be undertaken. Whatever the future may be, the Dutch are ready to explore the Arctic.

Rebecca McFedries