Author(s): G. R. Pilkington; B. D. Wright; B. C. Dixit; K. S. Woolner; B. D. O’Dell
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The conical drilling unit Kulluk entered the Canadian Beaufort Sea in August 1983 to drill on Gulf Canada's offshore acreage. During the operating seasons in 1983,1984 and 1985, severe ice conditions were encountered but the Kulluk was able to successfully operate in ice exceeding its design expectations. These conditions included 9+/10th concentrations of thick first-year ice in June, up to 4 or 5/10 concentrations of multiyear ice and in 10/10 coverage of first-year ice in December. Comparisons of the Kulluk’s performance behavior in ice have been found to agree reasonably well with model tests and theory.
Year: 1986