Petro-Canada discusses ice management

Judy Maksoud
International Editor

STAVANGER, Norway -- Peter Haverson of Petro-Canada discussed the value of ice management on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the 19th annual Deep Offshore Technology Conference and Exhibition in Stavanger, Norway.

According to Haverson, Petro-Canada has been working in arctic conditions in the Mackenzie delta/Beaufort Sea area of Canada since 1978. The experience gathered since that time, he said, is becoming more valuable as the industry moves toward increased activity in arctic regions.

Successful ice management includes protecting personnel, assets, and the environment, Haverson said, noting that regulatory compliance is also necessary. Operational readiness, he said, "is the accumulation of all of these consideration.

"Because icebergs sit in the trough of the wave, they often are difficult to spot," Haverson said. For that reason, ice detection is a critical component of an ice management strategy. Haverson talked about the methods of ice detection his company has used over the years, including ice flights (planes that fly over areas where ice is generated to identify hazards), satellite surveillance, and dedicated and non-dedicated ice-management vessels. "Detection and knowledge of how bad it is are very important," Haverson said.

Once ice is identified, it can be managed in several ways. Haverson discussed using vessels to tow ice away from areas where it can cause damage. "Slow and gentle" movement is desirable, he said. Another method of removing ice is to use a water cannon, which requires equipment to be mounted on deck and uses a lot of horsepower. A third option is propeller washing, which uses the power of a ship's propeller to wear away ice below the water line.

Ice is a hazard in many areas of the world that will soon see increased exploration and development, Haverson said, and this will significantly increase the need for ice management.

10/11/2007