Artificial Ice Islands for Deep Water and Production Structures

by Steven T. Connolly, Arctic Applications Inc, Boulder, CO, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Cold Regions Engineering

Abstract:

The need for an island to survive the summer melt season is introduced. To account for surface melting and erosion from waves and currents during this season, the island's initial dimensions are of primary importance. A numerical model has been developed to calculate the amount of ice lost during a melt season. The ablation rate for the top surface averaged over the entire melt season is 5. 5 inches/day (14 cm/day). The diameter decreased at a rate of 18. 5 feet/day (5. 6 m/day) due to wave erosion. If an island is built so that its sliding resistance at the end of the melt season can withstand the ice forces during the freeze-up season it will remain into the next winter.

Subject Headings: Seasonal variations | Ice | Surface waves | Offshore platforms | Islands | Wells (oil and gas) | Snowmelt

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