Arctic Offshore Engineering

There is an increasing need to construct engineering structures in the Arctic seas. The requirement is principally generated by the oil and gas industry, because of the substantial reserves that are known to exist offshore in the Beaufort Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Barents Sea, the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Sakhalin, the Canadian Arctic, and almost certainly elsewhere. Structures have to withstand the severe environmental forces generated by sea ice, a subject that is developing rapidly but is still far from completely understood. Underwater pipelines have to be safe against ice gouging and strudel scour, but also have to be constructed safely and economically. The social and human environment has to be understood and respected.

This important book intentionally takes a broad view, and vividly accounts for the many and often subtle interactions between the different factors. It is illustrated by case studies of actual projects.

Contents:

• The Human Context
• The Physical and Biological Environment
• Ice Mechanics
• Ice Forces on Structures in the Sea
• Broken Ice, Pressure Ridges and Ice Rubble
• Ice Forces on Floating Platforms
• Arctic Marine Pipelines and Export Systems
• Environmental Impact
• Human Factors and Safety

Readership: Professionals, academics, and graduate students in civil engineering.
Key Features:

• A straightforward guide to engineering for the Arctic offshore
• Examines in detail the latest developments in technical areas such as ice mechanics and ice forces on offshore structures