Application of Recent Ice Class Requirements for Arctic E&P Offshore Structures

摘要

This paper presents important issues that have always existed in theassessment of Arctic environmental actions on exploration drillingstructures and the many additional factors that must be addressed foryear round production systems. Recent high level Arctic developmentactivities have demonstrated the urgent need for better understanding ofthe ice strengthening, winterization, and ice management design andoperational requirements for the various Arctic regions.Recent international and national Arctic rule development will becritically reviewed and the differences between the recent ISODIS19906, API RP 2N, IACS, and DNV class requirements will bediscussed. The concepts currently proposed for ship shaped, monoandmulti-pod, mono-cone, caisson, and spar, drilling and productionplatforms and LNG terminals will be reviewed. In addition the designphilosophy for stiffened plates or shells of revolution that form thebasic common load resisting component will be evaluated under impactforces from ice features. Emphasis will be placed on the prediction ofthe ultimate strength of such structures in comparison with actualdamage observations.