**REPORT TITLE:** Northern Shelikof Strait Petroleum Facilities Siting
Study. Special Report No. 2.

**STUDY TITLE:** Northern Shelikof Strait Petroleum Facilities Siting
Study.

CONTRACT NUMBER(S): BLM: CT6-61; MMS: 14-12-0001-29002.

SPONSORING OCS REGION: Alaska.

APPLICABLE PLANNING AREA(S): Kodiak; Cook Inlet.

FISCAL YEAR(S) OF PROJECT FUNDING: 1976.

COMPLETION DATE OF REPORT: February 1980.

COST(S): FY 1976: \$19,923; CUMULATIVE PROJECT COST: \$19,923.

PROJECT MANAGER(S): W. Pyle.

AFFILIATION: Dames & Moore.

ADDRESS: 510 L Street, Suite 310, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)\*: W. Pyle.

KEY WORDS: Kodiak; Cook Inlet; Alaska; site assessment; development;
literature review; technology assessments; physical oceanography; Kodiak
Island; Shelikof Strait; Alaska Region.

ACCESS NUMBER: 29002

**BACKGROUND:** The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that oil and gas
reserves in Shelikof Strait could be 50 million barrels of oil and 50
billion cubic feet of natural gas. If oil and natural gas reserves
within this region were developed, production options would involve
three principal alternatives using either long‑, medium‑, or
short‑length pipelines. Production scenarios specified transporting
Shelikof gas via pipeline to liquid natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical
plants along upper Cook Inlet rather than to a LNG plant along Shelikof
Strait. Favorable sites identified for a new crude oil terminal would
also be feasible for a LNG plant. This study, prepared under the
auspices of the Alaska Socioeconomic Studies Program, was implemented to
focus on a preliminary selection of sites suitable for
production‑related facilities in Shelikof Strait area.

**OBJECTIVES:** (1) To identify suitable sites in the Shelikof Strait
area for a crude oil terminal, a temporary service base, a construction
support base, and a permanent support base.

**DESCRIPTION**: The study effort consisted of three phases. First,
technical criteria for siting petroleum facilities were defined, as well
as defining navigation requirements. Second, once possible sites were
selected, literature reviews were conducted to identify principal
geologic, geomorphic, and oceanographic features of each site that
related to feasibility of facility siting. Sites were then ranked
according to feasibility. Third, to establish the biological sensitivity
of each possible site, data were obtained from the literature on marine
and terrestrial ecosystems, including natural resources (e.g.,
fisheries). After considering these various criteria, a final site
ranking was completed.

**SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS:** Five oil production‑related sites were
preliminarily selected for evaluation within the Shelikof Strait area.
Oil production‑related sites in the Kodiak Archipelago were more
desirable than sites on the northwest side of Shelikof Strait. The most
favorable sites were located in the Kupreanof Strait region; the least
favorable site was found in Paramanof Bay (Afognak Island). However,
because of the very limited nature of available data, serious doubts
ensued as to the site selection process. Furthermore, physical and
biological factors of the Kodiak Archipelago made it a sensitive area
which would impose severe development constraints.

**STUDY RESULTS:** Five oil production‑related sites were preliminarily
selected for evaluation within the Shelikof Strait area. Site 1, located
on the south side of Kupreanof Strait (midway between Kupreanof Mountain
and Outlet Cape), was ranked as being highly suitable. The entrance to
Kupreanof Strait was 14 km (8 mi) from the proposed site and there was a
wide entrance through Kupreanof Strait to Site 1. Only one navigation
hazard, a shoal, was found. Currents at Site 1 were expected to range
from 1 to 2 kn. The 18‑m (60‑ft) depth contour was close inshore (274 m
from shore). A shore‑parallel berthing configuration would be suitable
based on site-specific winds and currents. Site 1 would be well
protected from waves. Within the onshore portion of Site 1, there was
sufficient area (300‑m wide strip) of relatively flat ground for
facilities. Very few anadromous fish streams occurred near proposed Site
1, however a major salmon fisheries occurred in the Strait. Crab (i.e.,
Dungeness, king, and Tanner) habitat in the site area was rated high,
but shrimp habitat was rated low. No significant wetlands were found
nearby. Site 1 may be a major wintering area for seabirds. Cetaceans
were common in the region, but sea otters and pinnipeds were in present
only in low numbers. The site may serve as a deer wintering range.

Site 2, located on the north side of Kupreanof Strait (south side of
Raspberry Island, between Bukti Point and Gori Point), was also ranked
as being highly suitable. The entrance to Kupreanof Strait was 12 km (7
mi) from the proposed site and, as with Site 1, there was a wide
entrance through Kupreanof Strait to the site; no navigation hazards
were found. Currents at Site 2 were expected to range from 2 to 3 kn.
The 18‑m (60‑ft) depth contour was close inshore (300 m from shore). As
was the case with Site 1, a shore‑parallel berthing configuration would
be suitable based on site-specific winds and currents. Site 2 would be
moderately protected from waves. Within the onshore portion of Site 2,
there was sufficient area (300‑m wide strip) of relatively flat ground
for facilities. Biological features of this proposed site were similar
to Site 1 (on the south side of the Strait), with the addition of
possible use by wintering elk.

Site 3, located on Afognak Island (northeast of Dolphin Point), was
ranked as being of medium suitability. The entrance to Raspberry Strait
was 9 km (5 mi) from the proposed site and there was a wide entrance
through Raspberry Strait to the site; no navigation hazards were found.
Currents at Site 3 were expected to range from 2 to 3 kn. The 18‑m
(60‑ft) depth contour was close inshore (150 m from shore). A
shore‑parallel berthing configuration might be oblique to winds and
currents, but would be well protected from waves. Within the onshore
portion of Site 3, there was only a limited amount of area (150‑m wide
strip) which was suitable for facilities. Biological features of this
proposed site were similar to Sites 1 and 2 on Kupreanof Strait, with
several differences. There were several anadromous fish streams nearby,
with the closest being 5 km from Site 3. Crab habitat was listed as
moderately good. No significant wintering seabird populations were
expected near Site 3. High densities of seals occurred at the mouth of
Raspberry Strait. Winter ranges of deer were expected to be good, while
bear and elk habitat were rated as being moderate in the vicinity of
Site 3.

Site 4, also located on Afognak Island (eastern end of Shuyak Strait in
Cape Current Narrows), was ranked as being of medium suitability. The
entrance to Shuyak Strait was 8 km (5 mi) from the proposed site,
however, the site entrance was constricted and several shoals were noted
as potential navigation hazards. Currents at the site were expected to
range from 2 to 4 kn. The 18‑m (60‑ft) depth contour was close inshore
(300 m from shore). A shore‑parallel berthing configuration would be
sub‑parallel to winds and currents, but would be well protected from
waves. Within the onshore portion of Site 4, there was sufficient area
(450‑m wide strip) suitable for facilities, however, thick,
unconsolidated, and saturated sediments may also be present at Site 4.
Biological features of this proposed site were similar to Sites 1
through 3, with several notable differences. There were few anadromous
fish streams nearby, with the closest being 6 km from Site 4. Crab
habitat was listed as low. No significant wintering seabird populations
were expected near the site. Four seabird nesting colonies (i.e.,
primarily glaucous‑winged gulls) occurred nearby, with the closest
colony located 2.5 km from Site 4. The highest regional densities of sea
otters and pinnipeds occurred in the vicinity of Site 4, and Dall
porpoise were abundant during summer. Bear, deer, and elk habitats were
listed as low.

Site 5, also located on Afognak Island (southwest corner of Paramanof
Bay), was ranked as being of low suitability. The site was located 8 km
(5 mi) from the entrance to the Bay, however the site entrance was
constricted. Currents at the site were expected to be weak. The 18‑m
(60‑ft) depth contour was far from shore (\>450 m from shore). A
shore‑parallel berthing configuration would be sub‑parallel to winds and
currents, but would be exposed to waves. Within the onshore portion of
Site 5, there was sufficient area (450‑m wide strip) suitable for
facilities, however as was noted for Site 4, there may be thick,
unconsolidated, and saturated sediments present at Site 5. Biological
features of this proposed site were similar to the above sites, with
several notable differences. There were a number of anadromous fish
streams nearby, with the closest being 1 km from Site 5. Crab habitat
was listed as low, however, shrimp habitat was moderate. No significant
wintering seabird populations were expected near the site. Four seabird
nesting colonies (i.e., primarily tufted puffins) occurred nearby, with
the closest colony located 1.5 km from the site. Site 5 was listed as
both a critical nesting area and a wintering area of bald eagles.
Moderate densities of sea otters occurred in Paramanof Bay. Significant
densities of seals occurred near Cape Paramanof and near stream mouths.
Bear, deer, and elk habitats were listed as good or high.

Because of the very limited nature of available data, serious doubts
were raised pertaining to the site selection process. In spite of the
relative rankings of the five sites evaluated during this analysis, the
unique physical and biological factors of the preferred facility
location (i.e., the Kodiak Archipelago) made it a sensitive area which
would impose severe development constraints.

**STUDY PRODUCT(S):** Dames & Moore. 1980. Northern Shelikof Strait
Petroleum Facilities Siting Study. Special Report No. 2. A final report
for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Alaska OCS Office, Anchorage, AK. Social and Economic Studies Program
Special Report No. 2. Contract No. 14-12-0001-29002. v + 65 pp.

\*P.I.\'s affiliation may be different than that listed for Project
Manager(s).