Sea bottom scouring in the Canadian Beaufort Sea
Echo sounding, side scan sonar and seismic profiling records have shown that the continental shelf of the Canadian Beaufort Sea has been subjected to extensive scouring by ice features. The scouring phenomena is extremely important in the design and protection of offshore wells and future pipelines. Analyses of records collected by industry and government in the early 1970's and reported by Hnatiuk and Brown in 1977 have been refined with the inclusion of additional data collected by industry and government in 1975 and 1976. Here, the results of the information synthesis are presented in terms of regional maps showing relevant scouring parameters and their variation with location and water depth. A quantitative evaluation of scour return period is also presented on the basis of sedimentation assumptions. This information is compared with a recent analysis of side scan scour mosaics collected repetitively over four areas ranging in water depths from 45 to 150 feet and with time intervals ranging from 2 to 7 years between the repetitive seafloor maps. The rate of addition of new scours determined from the repetitive mosaic approach supports the regional assessment of Beaufort Sea scour but suggests more episodic and areally frequent scour events along with more active scouring in water depths approaching 150 feet. This information is discussed in terms of the Beaufort Sea ice regime.
- Research Organization:
- Gulf Canada Resources Inc.
- OSTI ID:
- 5337901
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-830514-
- Journal Information:
- Offshore Technol. Conf.; (United States), Journal Name: Offshore Technol. Conf.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN OSTCB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580500* -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
ARCTIC OCEAN
BEAUFORT SEA
CANADA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DESIGN
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
ICE
MECHANICS
NORTH AMERICA
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
PIPELINES
SEA BED
SEAS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SOIL MECHANICS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
WELLS