Joint Industry Research Through the Arctic Petroleum Operatorsl Association
Authors: Hnatiuk J.R. 
Published: March 2010

Exploration for hydrocarbon reserves in the Arctic areas of Canada requires unique solutions to problems associated with sensitive terrain, wildlife, drilling, sea ice, sea bottom conditions and transportation. Research costs in frontier areas, particularly in the Arctic, are inherently high due to remoteness, severe climate and difficult operating conditions. In order to obtain more information for the research monies available, and to avoid unnecessary duplication, industry has successfully undertaken many joint research projects and studies during the past two years. In order to obtain sufficient funding, the majority of the results are kept confidential for a period of five years. Projects are proposed to operators through a nonprofit association comprised of permit holders in the Arctic, known as the Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association (APOA). Although only in their third year, the APOA has proven very successful. In addition to reducing costs to individual companies, it has assured a broad look at problems and has provided excellent means for liaison with government and academic institutions.

The major Arctic on-site research projects involved with sea ice have included ice strength, ice movement, ice cover, and geometry of ice features such as pressure ridges. Sea bottom studies have included soil composition and strength and sea bottom "scouring" by ice features. The major feasibility studies have been involved with conceptual design of systems by which seasonal or year round exploratory drilling can be conducted. Transportation, terrain and wildlife studies are dealt with only briefly in this paper. The cost of the above joint research projects and studies has been nearly two million dollars.

The nature of the APOA and its research projects and studies are described in considerable detail including many of the problems encountered. The specific results of the research are necessarily described only in broad terms.

INTRODUCTION

THE RAPIDLY INCREASING DEMAND for oil and natural gas in North America, the uncertainty of overseas supplies and the lack of recent exploration success in Western Canada have resulted in accelerated activity in the frontier areas. The Canadian Petroleum Association(1) has indicated that potential recoverable reserves in the Arctic sedimentary basins may prove to be 60 billion barrels of crude oil and 350 trillion cubic feet of raw natural gas. These large reserves when compared to the 13 billion barrels of oil and 91 TCF of raw gas discovered to date in Canada should warrant the large expenditures which will be necessary to utilize the reserves.

The Arctic presents as hostile an environment as any which will be faced by industry, New technology must be developed for exploration, production and transportation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic, particularly in the ice-infested offshore areas.

Some Arctic problem areas requiring extensive research and unique solutions are:Interaction of sea ice on structures.Offshore exploratory and development drilling systems.Detection of ice and forecasts of its movement.Tundra disturbance,Gathering systems and pipelines in ice-infested waters and in permafrost.Well completions in permafrost.Supply and transportation,Wildlife and ecology,Impact of oil activities on northern peoples.