Marine environmental problems: the ice covered Beaufort Sea shelf and coastal regions

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Geology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6119726

Barnes, P; Reimnitz, E; Drake, D

The primary goal of the program has been to understand the processes that are unique to Arctic shelves and their sedimentary environment, where sea ice plays an important role. Specific objectives have included: a definition of the character of bottom materials, including permafrost; a study of the present sediment transport and depositional mechanisms; and studies of the Holocene and Pleistocene geologic record. The character of the arctic continental shelf and coastal area, with its permafrost, faces the developer with many special problems. Any structure which is to be connected to the ocean floor requires data concerning the strength and character of the ocean floor. In addition, the offshore drilling operation may encounter permafrost which would be substantially altered during the process of pumping hot oil up to the sea floor or along the sea floor in gathering and transportation pipelines. The interaction of the arctic shelf with the arctic pack ice takes the form of ice gouging and the formation of a large stamukhi zone each winter. These factors are of utmost importance to the designers and operators of offshore terminals and pipelines.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
• OSTI ID: 6119726
• Journal Information: Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 12; ISSN GLGYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
COASTAL REGIONS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DRILLING
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
ICE
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
OFFSHORE DRILLING
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PERMAFROST
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PIPELINES
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS
USA