Base de données de recherche des TNO

étiquettes: physical sciences, sea ice, exploration drilling, seabed

Objectif(s): To discover ways to safely transport humans from an offshore structure across surrounding large rubble fields in the event of an emergency. The research will quantify formation and stability of rubble fields, effects of ice rubble and provide guidance on optimums, safety, and traverse rates across rubble fields under a variety of conditions.

Description du projet: It has been observed that large rubble fields surround the exploration drilling structures and ground on the seabed. They are beneficial because they transmit some of the ice load to the seabed and preventing ice crushing the structure. However, they present challenges to safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. To evaluate how ice rubble impacts emergency evacuation and to identify methods to deal with ice rubble, this project will investigate the formation and stability of the rubble fields through site surveys, sonar readings and underwater photography. Factors affecting the ability of personnel to traverse rubble fields in various states of formation and decay will also be investigated. Data will be used to determine safe methods of emergency evacuation. Reconnaissance flights will be taken to investigate potential ice rubble sites. Sites will be surveyed to measure rubble height using surveying equipment. Markers will be placed for air photography and then removed. Holes will be drilled in the ice using steam drills, ice augers and chain saws to get a reference water-level for the rubble height, for determining the thickness and degree of grounding of the rubble, and to use put the Remotely Operated Vehicle in the water to photograph the rubble at the seabed. A sonar system may be used to assess the degree of grounding of the rubble. Data from weather stations, RadarSat and Quickbird satellite data provided through Environment Canada will also be used. Specific locations of sites will be determined when the ice becomes landfast, and expected to be approximately 200 km from Inuvik. Transportation will be by helicopter or twin otter plane (possibly by snowmobile for the closest sites) daily from Inuvik. Results will be presented on the Canadian Hydraulic Centre website. Findings will also be communicated in a plain language summary and publications, which will be available to interested parties through the Aurora Research Institute library in Inuvik. Fieldwork will be carried out from March 23 to May 18, 2007.