Evaluation of exhaust emissions in ice management operations

• Main Author: Partiala, Kirsi
• Other Authors: Suojanen, Reko-Antti, Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu, School of Engineering, Sovelletun mekaniikan laitos, Kujala, Pentti, Aalto-yliopisto, Aalto University
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: ice management; offshore; Monte Carlo method; icebreakers; fuel oil consumption; exhaust emissions; Monte Carlo -menetelmä; jäänmurtaja; polttoaineen kulutus; pakokaasupäästöt; Kara Sea; Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/99897

New hydrocarbon fields are constantly being sought to satisfy the increasing global energy demand. Many of these fields are located offshore, in harsh environments where drilling operations require ice management assistance. At the same time, pollution and climate change are growing concerns. Rules and regulations are becoming stricter and environmental aspects are taken into consideration already at the early stages when planning offshore operations. This Master's thesis focuses on the use of simulation and probabilistic methods for estimating the fuel oil consumption and the exhaust emissions of an ice management fleet The developed calculation method uses the Monte Carlo method to simulate the ice and environmental conditions in which an offshore platform will operate, thus determining how frequently ice management is required. The obtained results provide a basis for comparing ice management fleets, offshore structures and sea areas from an operational and environmental point of view. Based on the results, it is also possible to evaluate whether exhaust emissions could be reduced by increasing the mooring capacity of the platform. As the fuel oil consumption and the released emissions are monetized, the results can also be employed as input data for a cost-benefit analysis. As an example, the model was tested in two sea areas, the Beaufort Sea and the south-western Kara Sea, and with two offshore structures. It was found out that the model yielded reasonable results although a proper validation is not currently possible. Uusia hiilivetyesiintymiä etsitään jatkuvasti globaalin energian tarpeen kasvaessa. Monet näistä esiintymistä sijaitsevat merialueilla, joilla olosuhteet ovat vaativat eikä alueella voida operoida ilman avustavia jäänmurtajia. Poraustoiminnan lisääntyessä myös huoli ympäristöstä kasvaa. Alusten päästöjä koskevat säännöt ja vaatimukset kiristyvät ja ympäristönäkökulma halutaan huomioida jo offshore-projektin aikaisessa suunnitteluvaiheessa. Tässä diplomityössä tarkastellaan sitä, miten ...