Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:09:16.676Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Transporting Arctic petroleum: a role for commercial submarines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Alfred. S. McLaren
Affiliation:
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA

Abstract

Following a review of commercially-viable offshore oil deposits in northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland, the author explores alternative possibilities currently under consideration for transporting the oil to centres where it will be used.

Hazards of pipeline construction, particularly under water, and the problems and dangers associated with giant surface tankers and projected giant submarines are discussed. The author concludes that conventional submarines towing oil-filled plastic drogue tanks offer the safest and most expeditious method of solving the problem. This is the second of two articles (see Polar Record, 21 (133): 369–81 (1983)).

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alaska Industry. 1979. Alaska OCS can expect action. Alaska Industry, 10: 35, 47.Google Scholar
Alaska Construction and Oil. 1982. Drill report. Alaska Construction and Oil, 04: 70, 72.Google Scholar
Aczm Newsletter. 1979. Borough moves to regulate offshore. Arctic Coastal Zone Management Newsletter, (19): 4.Google Scholar
Arctic Institute of North America. 1973. Arctic marine commerce AIRLIE House Workship, Warrentown, Va., 26–28 February 1973. Washington DC, Arctic Institute of North America.Google Scholar
APOA. 1979a Beaufort Sea activities. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 2 (2): 23.Google Scholar
APOA. 1979b. Active summer of Arctic exploration in Beaufort Sea and south Davis Strait. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 2 (3): 3.Google Scholar
APOA. 1980. Active summer program proceeds in Arctic. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 3 (2): 3.Google Scholar
APOA. 1981a. Beaufort Sea production: the plan. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 4 (3): 4.Google Scholar
APOA. 1981b. Pan Arctic expands operations in the Arctic islands. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 4 (3): 10.Google Scholar
APOA. 1982. Dome keeps up the pace. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 5 (1): 46.Google Scholar
Armstrong, T. E. 1979. Soviet capabilities in Arctic marine transport. In: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. Marine transportation and High Arctic development: policy framework and priorities. Symposium proceedings 21–23 March 1979, Montebello, Quebec. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee: 210–22.Google Scholar
Bregha, F. 1979. Petroleum development in northern Alaska. In: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. Marine transportation and High Arctic developments: policy framework and priorities. Symposium proceedings 21–23 March 1979, Montebello, Quebec. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee: 223–53.Google Scholar
Brewer, J. 1982. Dome perfects its new breed of Arctic tanker. Lloyd's List, 25 02: 25.Google Scholar
British Petroleum. 1977. Our industry petroleum. London, British Petroleum Co., Ltd.Google Scholar
British Petroleum. 1982. Annual report and accounts 1981. London, Metcalf Caldwell.Google Scholar
Business Week. 1982. Gulfs big gamble in Canada to build reserves. Business Week (2759), 4 10: 117.Google Scholar
Business Week. 1983. The great Arctic energy rush. Business Week (2774), 01 24: 5257.Google Scholar
Canada: Indian And Northern Affairs. 1980a. Lancaster Sound regional study jurisdiction and legislative background report: V. Ottawa, Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Canada: Indian And Northern Affairs. 1980b. Non-renewable resources and transport of the Lancaster Sound region background report: IV. Ottawa, Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Canada: Indian Affairs And Northern Development. 1982. 1981 annual report of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Yellowknife, Department of Information, Government of the Northwest Territories.Google Scholar
Canada: Lands Directorate Environment. 1982. Towards a final settlement. Land, 3 (1): 21.Google Scholar
Canada: Office Of Native Claims, Department Of Indian Affairs And Northern Development. 1978. Opinion paper native claims: policy, processes and perspectives. In: Keith, R. and Wright, J. (editors). Northern Transitions. II. Second national workshop on people, resources and the environment north of 60°. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee: 284–93.Google Scholar
Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. 1979. Marine transportation and high Arctic development: policy framework and priorities. Symposium Proceedings 21–23 March 1979, Montebello, Quebec. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.Google Scholar
CIA. 1978. Polar regions atlas. Washington, US Central Intelligence Agency.Google Scholar
Daks, G. 1981. A choice of futures: politics in the Canadian north. Toronto, Methuen.Google Scholar
Dobell, P. C. 1976. The policy dimension. In: Dosman, E. J. (editor). 1976. The Arctic in question. Toronto, Oxford University Press: 121–38.Google Scholar
Dracone Developments Ltd. 1958. A new method of transport. Cambridge, Dracone Developments Ltd.Google Scholar
Dunbar, M. J. 1980. Marine transportation and high Arctic development: a bibliography. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.Google Scholar
Eaton, B. 1982. New group seeks planning on Beaufort development. The Whitehorse Star, 82 (69): 10.Google Scholar
Foster, P. 1980. The blue-eyed sheiks, the Canadian oil establishment. Toronto, Totem Books.Google Scholar
Galantin, I. 1958. The future of nuclear – powered submarines. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 84 (6): 33.Google Scholar
Gamble, D. J. 1979. The scope and implications of Arctic offshore drilling. Arctic Sea Bulletin, 1 (2): 13.Google Scholar
Giniger, H. 1982. Project to ship gas from Arctic nears approval in Canada. The New York Times, 13 01.Google Scholar
Gorman, J. 1982. Energy issues. News/North, 9 04: A13.Google Scholar
Harrison, G. R. 1979. The need for action-oriented R and D in the Canadian Arctic. In: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. Marine transportation and High Arctic development: policy framework and priorities. Symposium Proceedings, 21–23 March 1979, Montebello, Quebec. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.Google Scholar
Imperial Oil. 1982. Annual report 1981. Toronto, Imperial Oil Ltd.Google Scholar
Lancaster Sound Regional Study. 1982. The Lancaster Sound Region 1980–2000: issues and options on the use and management of the region: Green Paper. Ottawa, Canadian Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Lindburgh, K. and Provoise, B. 1977. The Trans-Alaska pipeline. Volume III: Emerging Alaska. Seattle, Scribe.Google Scholar
Lucas, A. R. and Others. 1979. Regulation of High Arctic development. In: Canadian Arctic Resources Committee. Marine transportation and High Arctic development: policy framework and priorities. Symposium Proceedings 21–23 03 1979, Montebello, Quebec. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.Google Scholar
Markham, W. F. 1981. Ice atlas, Canadian Arctic waterways. Quebec, Canadian Arctic Publishing Centre.Google Scholar
McLaren, A. S. 1982a. Exploration under the Arctic ice. Explorers' Journal, 03: 3439.Google Scholar
McLaren, A. S. 1982b. The Arctic submarine, an alternative to icebreaker tankers and pipelines. Unpublished MPhil thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
McLaren, A. S. 1983. The development of cargo submarines for polar use. Polar Record, 21 (133): 369–81.Google Scholar
McLaren, A. S., Wadhams, P. and Weintraub, R. 1982. An analysis of ice profiles from Baffin Bay and the Northwest Passage. (Unpublished technical report).Google Scholar
Meisler, S. 1979. Arctic oil drillers shrug off the hazards of ‘enemy ice’. The Providence Sunday Journal, 25 10: A28.Google Scholar
Miles, P. and Wright, N. 1978. An outline of mineral extraction in the Arctic. Polar Record, 19 (118): 2433.Google Scholar
Moreau, J. W. 1970. Problems and developments in Arctic Alaska transportation. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 96 (5/807): 98119.Google Scholar
News/North. 1982. Lobby groups form anti-Beaufort coalition. News‘sol;North, 5 03: A3.Google Scholar
Norcor Engineering And Research Ltd. 1978. A study of ice conditions along shipping routes in the Arctic Archipelago. (Ottawa?), Transport Canada.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1981. Oil self sufficiency by the end of the century. Oilvieek 32 (45): 6062.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1982a. New era for oil and gas development in the north. Oilweek 32 (50): 2.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1982b. Drake Point field must be utilized. Oilweek, 33 (3): 45.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1982c. Canada loses favor for oil and gas investors. Oilweek, 33 (3): 82.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983a. Beaufort oil and gas discovery. Oilweek, 34 (13): 5.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983b. Beaufort activity moves into high gear. Oilweek, 34 (15): 2029.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983c. Beaufort Sea production by 1989? Oilweek, 34 (18): 9.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983d. Gulfs beaudrill project in high gear. Oilweek, 34 (14): 4.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983e. Beaufort Sea impact study found deficient. Oilweek, 34 (6): 89.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983f. Group plans 1985 wildcat in Lancaster Sound. Oilweek, 34 (16): 8.Google Scholar
Oilweek. 1983g. Polar Gas to file new application. Oilweek, 34 (7): 5.Google Scholar
O'Toole, T. 1980. Two seas off Alaska may hold large reserves of oil. Washington Post, 27 01.Google Scholar
Page, R. 1981. The High Arctic: environmental concerns, government controls and economic development. In: Zazlow, M. (ed.). A century of Canada's islands 1880–1980. Ottawa, The Royal Society of Canada: 231–44.Google Scholar
Pallisterj, J. 1981. Meeting the Arctic challenge. Arctic Petroleum Operators' Association Review, 4 (1): 917.Google Scholar
Panarctic 1981. Thirteenth Annual Report 1980. Calgary, Panarctic Oils Ltd.Google Scholar
Peterson, M. (ed.). 1981. The question of sound from icebreaker operations. Proceedings of a workshop, 23–24 February 1981, Toronto, Canada. Calgary, Arctic Pilot Project Petro-Canada.Google Scholar
Pimlott, D. and Others. 1976. Oil under the ice. Ottawa, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.Google Scholar
Polar Gas Project. 1980. The polar gas pipeline: update 1980. Toronto, Polar Gas Project.Google Scholar
Polar Record. 1977. Completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Polar Record 18 (117): 613–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polar Record. 1979. Shipping losses caused by ice, 1890–1977. Polar Record, 19 (121): 343–62.Google Scholar
Polar Record. 1981. The Polar Gas Project. Polar Record, 20 (129): 520.Google Scholar
Pullen, T. C. 1981. The development of Arctic ships. In: Zazlow, M. (ed.). A century of Canada's islands 1880–1980. Ottawa, The Royal Society of Canada: 153–62.Google Scholar
Richards, W. E. 1979. The solution to Canada's oil and gas needs – the Arctic. Arctic Seas Bulletin, 1 (5): 1.Google Scholar
Robb, D. 1982. Submarine tankers proposed for Arctic LNG transport. Sea Technology, 02: 2325.Google Scholar
Robinson, J. B. 1980. Policy, pipelnes and public participation: the National Energy Board's pipeline hearings. In: Dwiverdi, O. P. (ed.). Resources and the environment: policy perspectives for Canada. Toronto, McLelland and Stewart: 079–97.Google Scholar
Rossler, E. 1981. The U-boat: the evolution and technical history of the German submarines. Translated by Erenberg, Harold. London, Arms and Armour Press.Google Scholar
Sater, J. E. and others. 1971. Arctic environment and resources. Washington DC, Arctic Institute of North America.Google Scholar
Simmonds, K. R. (ed.). 1983. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982. Dobbs Ferry, New York, Oceana Publication.Google Scholar
Stirling, I. and Cleator, H. (ed.). 1981. Polynyas in the Canadian Arctic. Occasional Paper 45, Canadian Wildlife Service. Ottawa, Minister of Environment, Canadian Wildlife Service.Google Scholar
Taagholt, J. 1980. Northern waters: resource endowments. In: Scrivener, D. (ed.). Northern waters: resources and security issues colloquium, 17–19 December 1980. Aberdeen, Centre for Defence Studies, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Taagholt, J. 1981. Greenland seen from a historic and security point of view (Unpublished MS in the author's possession.)Google Scholar
USA Department Of Interior. 1972a. Final environmental impact statement, proposed trans-Alaska pipeline. Vol 2. Introduction and summary. Washington DC, US Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
USA Department Of Interior. 1972b. Final environmental impact statement, proposed trans-Alaska pipeline. Vol 5. Alternatives to the proposed action. Washington DC, US Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
USA Office of Naval Research. 1974. Buoy-integrated Antenna Submarine program (BIAS). Naval Research Reviews, 27 (7): 19.Google Scholar
Urquahart, J. 1982. Northward Ho! Canada's mining firms turn to Arctic islands, site of rich resources. Wall Street Journal, 5 02: 1, 16.Google Scholar
Veliotis, P. and Reitz, S. 1981. A submarine LNG tanker concept for the Arctic. Groton, General Dynamics Corporation.Google Scholar
Vines, S. 1981. Oil giants start massive investment to stay on top. The Observer, 8 10: 18.Google Scholar
Wadhams, P. and Horne, R. W. 1980. An analysis of ice profiles obtained by submarine sonar in the Beaufort Sea. Journal of Glaciology 25 (93): 401–24.Google Scholar
Wadhams, P. 1981a. Sea ice topography of the Arctic Ocean in the region 70° W to 25° E. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 302 (1464): 4585.Google Scholar
Wadhams, P. 1981b. Oil and ice in the Beaufort Sea-the physical effects of a hypothetical blowout. In: EUROCBAN. Petroleum and the marine environment. PETROMAR 80. London, Graham and Trotman: 399–318.Google Scholar
Whitehorse Star. 1982a. No more pipeline aid-Haig. The Whitehorse Star, 82 (82): 1.Google Scholar
Whitehorse Star. 1982b. Serious problems for p'line-Sharp. The Whitehorse Star, 82 (84): 4.Google Scholar