Author(s): F. G. Bercha; M. Cerovsek
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Subsea facilities in near shore regions of the Arctic seas are subject to impacts of ice pressure ridge scour. A recent evaluation of oil spill risks in the Alaskan OCS included development of an oil spill risk model capable of considering impacts of ice pressure ridges of different characteristics on subsea pipeline spill frequencies and severities. This paper focuses on the interactions of pressure ridges with subsea oil pipelines, and presents quantitative analytical evidence of the impacts of the principal ridge parameters of scour depth, flux, orientation, and interaction severity on pipeline failure and oil spill risk. Ridge scour depth is found to be the principal contributor to spill risk, while increased pipeline burial depth is one of the main spill risk mitigation measures. Conclusions and recommendations for risk mitigation and more detailed assessments are also presented.
Year: 2002