New Technologies for Tundra Applications
The inland platform can be used for drilling or alternatively as a staging area to reduce the distance for removing equipment during the summer and to save on the cost of constructing ice roads. This study will address this application; including the Arctic Foothills of Alaska. This area is considered as a very problematic for any kind of human activity area with extremely complicated engineering-geologic conditions. This area, located in continuous permafrost zone, is characterized by:
- Wide occurrence of ice-rich soils with massive ground ice bodies located at different depths (thick and tall ice wedges, buried glacial ice);
- Thickness of the saturated active layer usually is not more than 0.5-0.6 m;
- High vulnerability of tundra terrain;
- Fast development of permafrost related hazardous processes (i.e. thermokarst and thermal erosion).
- Long distance from current infrastructure for oil and gas development.
The project complements work conducted by the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program and leverages the accomplishments already achieved. HARC has been collaborating with Texas A&M University and TerraPlatforms, LLC (the Project Team) in the Joint Industry Program (JIP) research partnership to identify, test and adapt technologies for exploiting natural gas resources with a reduced environmental footprint. The collaboration is designed to reduce environmental concerns for ecologically sensitive areas currently open for extraction activities. The JIP addresses not only the engineering challenges facing the energy industry but also the considerable environmental concerns facing preserves and protected areas with mineral extraction activities. Funding for the EFD Program has been obtained from the Department of Energy NETL, and industry including BP, Shell, Devon, Conoco, Statoil, Chevron, Anadarko, Noble Corporation, National Oilwell Varco, Halliburton and MI Swaco.
A key part of the effort is outreach and technology transfer to the public, government agencies, industry and academia associated with exploration and production and environmental protection in the arctic.
For more information contact:
Rich Haut, HARC
281-364-6093
rhaut@harc.edu
Tom Williams, TerraPlatforms
713-201-3866
twilliams@afsolutionsinc.com
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