Print this pageCritical Factors for Successful Development of the Barents Sea Fields
Anatoly N. Dmitrievsky1, Inna E. Balanyuk2, Yury A. Poveschenko3, and Olga N. Chaikina2
1Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oil and Gas Problems, Moscow, Russia.
2Russian Academy of Sciences, P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow, Russia.
3Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow, Russia.
The essential criteria of sea bed stability are the development of geodynamically active zone of the Barents Sea rift, faults tectonics, geothermic regime, gas breath of industrial deposits, modern sedimentation and gas hydrates formation. The rift development was accompanied by vigorous tectonic activity, propagation of deep faults, deep fractured zones that played an important role in fluid dynamic and thermobaric regime of the whole region. It played not only a substantial role in formation of unique fields, but created prerequisites for possible gas outbursts into near-surface sediments of the Barents Sea that could result in gas hydrate formation.
The major processes that controlled a structure of the friable sedimentary cover of Arctic shelves appear on the seismic acoustic records as chaotic effect of cryolite genesis (permafrost, themokarst, glades, paleo-riverbeds and so on) and hydrocarbons migration (gas hydrates, gas saturated sediments, gas sipping, etc.). Such phenomena are the main components of geo-risks for oil and gas fields development in Arctic Seas and are, together with the gas hydrates deposits, the top priority objects of seismic acoustic measurements.
The development of the Arctic shelf oil and gas fields has not only processing complexity but implies a danger of initiation of different disasters related to ground instability. The Stockman field is located in the central part of the Barents Sea. The gas-bearing stratum is 518 m thick and assured resources are about 3 trillion m3. Its development is complicated by distant location from the continent (near 600 km away from the Kola Peninsula), valuable sea depths (300-320 m), high tides, repetitive storms and drifting ice. Geological engineering conditions (numerous dislocations with a break of continuity in Mesozoic rocks, affecting bed relief and bottom sediment properties) complicate the development as well. The sea depths and negative near bottom temperatures create additional difficulties. But the major problems of the development are those caused by interaction between the fields stratum fluids with gas hydrates of covering sediment. The new technology and equipment and new design concepts are to be invented, taking into account the criteria for possibility of development with use of above-water platforms or underwater systems.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90096©2009 AAPG 3-P Arctic Conference and Exhibition, Moscow, Russia