ConocoPhillips Canada – Proposed Research Program Relating to Access Infrastructure for the Parsons Lake Natural Gas Development

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: infrastructure planning, winter road, topography, aggregate resources

Principal Investigator: Kim, Jae (2)
Licence Number: 14100
Organization: ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited
Licensed Year(s): 2007 2006
Issued: Jan 31, 2007
Project Team: (Winter Road Consultant, To Be Determined), (Civil Engineer (bridges), To Be Determined), (Field Survey Engineer, To Be Determined), (Local Field Crew, To Be Determined), (Wildlife Monitor, To Be Determined), (Helicopter Support Crew, To Be Determined), (ConocoPhillips Field Supervisory - Program, Safety, ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited)

Objective(s): The objective of this program is to ground-truth (survey) routes and collect topographical and meteorological information relating to proposed access roads. Winter access roads will go to the Parsons Lake North pad from Tuktoyaktuk and from the mouth of Pete's Creek. The all season roads will go from the north pad to the gravel resource and to the airstrip, as well as the airstrip itself.

Project Description: The objective of this program is to ground-truth (survey) routes and collect topographical and meteorological information relating to proposed access roads. Winter access roads will go to the Parsons Lake North pad from Tuktoyaktuk and from the mouth of Pete's Creek. The all season roads will go from the north pad to the gravel resource and to the airstrip, as well as the airstrip itself. Snow machines will be driven along the four proposed winter routes (the two alternative winter routes from Pete’s Creek to Parsons Lake north pad and the two winter routes from Tuktoyaktuk to Parsons Lake) as well as the all weather routes around the north pad, from the north pad to granular resource and to the airstrip location, as well as the airstrip itself. GIS data from the 2006 aerial LiDAR survey will be used as guidance, and notes on topography, photographs, ice thickness and snow depth measurements will be taken. Solutions will be sought where conditions indicate potential transport problems. All channel crossings which may require water diversion/control structures will be identified. An engineering contractor may examine stream crossing to determine bridging design and alternate crossings. Three temporary weather monitoring stations (temperature, humidity, pressure, wind direction/velocity and precipitation) will be placed on the ground, likely using a staking system. The 3 stations will be located at the Parsons Lake North Pad, half way between the north pad and Tuktoyaktuk, and at the mouth of Pete’s Creek. These stations will be placed in February 2007 and removed in April 2007. The work will also familiarize project personnel with conditions, resources, and expertise. The information collected will be examined to identify potential transport problems, schedule delays and environmental issues. Personnel will travel by helicopter to and from Tuktoyaktuk daily. Three field trips in February, March, and April are planned, each about twelve days long, depending on conditions. The eight to twelve person team will be drawn as much as possible from the local community, and services from local providers will be solicited. Reports will be made available to community organizations in Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik and Aklavik, upon request. The study will be based out of Tuktoyaktuk and conducted onshore in the vicinity of the proposed Parsons Lake development north pad location(approximately 68°55’N to 69 12'N, and 133°20’W to 134°20’W). UTM Zone 8 Northing UTM Zone 8 Easting Latitude Longitude Pete's Creek 530586.54 7671373.04 69.1508335 -134.2299181 North Pad 557020.26 7653579.95 68.987049 -133.5750234 Tuktoyaktuk Road 561126.62 7679525.11 69.218758 -133.4561118