The era of the Arctic as an offshore producing province is upon us. Innovations in production flow assurance, subsea technologies, long-distance tiebacks, real-time remote control and monitoring – and of course ice-resistant platforms where needed – mean that pioneering developments are starting to proceed in this harshest of environments.

Russia is taking a lead role in the opening up of the Arctic Circle, especially while authorities in Alaska and Canada stall their plans as regulations are necessarily reviewed post-Macondo. The start of production drilling in Russia’s Arctic waters from Gazprom’s Prirazlomnoe platform in the eastern Pechora Sea is due this summer or sooner.

Gazprom’s Prirazlomnoe platform is on location in the Pechora Sea and will soon start drilling production wells in an area where the ice can attain a thickness of 50 m (164 ft). (Photo courtesy of Gazprom)

The importance of this activity being carried out to the best of the industry’s ability, and with zero margin for error, cannot be overstated. We all saw how the industry was portrayed and perceived following Macondo.

So the efforts this industry is taking to enhance its capabilities in this regard should be applauded. At a recent gathering of oil industry representatives, government, and academia in Norway, the Vice Chairman of the operators’ association Oil & Gas Producers (OGP), Joep Coppes, stressed the work of its Arctic Coordination Task Force and how the industry can contribute to the sustainable development of the “High North.” Earlier this year, the OGP formed an Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Project (JIP) with Shell, ExxonMobil, Statoil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, North Caspian Oil Co., and Total. The JIP is researching seven areas:

Behavior of dispersed oil under ice and dispersant efficacy-testing in Arctic environments;

Environmental impacts of Arctic spills and the response to them;

Trajectory modeling in ice;

Oil spill detection/monitoring in low visibility and ice;

Mechanical recovery;

In situ burning in Arctic environments; and

Experimental field releases. According to Joe Mullin, JIP program manager, prevention of spills is a priority as well as the response to any spill that could occur. “In the last few decades,” he said, “the industry has made significant advances in Arctic spill prevention and response technology, and by working together in this four-year JIP, we will increase knowledge and opportunities to test equipment, conduct field experiments, and develop oil spill response technology.” But with the JIP not due for completion for four years, is this the time for the industry to ask itself whether it should undertake any Arctic activity until the findings of this study are known? The consequences, if the industry proceeds unprepared, could be disastrous.

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