Stability of Grounded Spray Ice Structures

• Main Authors: Barker, Anne, Timco, Garry
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: National Research Council Canada 2004
• Subjects: Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.4224/12328582; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=581fe7bb-8269-47ca-a148-e3c83e1121df

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, a number of grounded ice islands were used as drilling platforms in the Beaufort Sea. These islands were constructed by spraying sea water into the air to form ice, gradually building up a large platform area that eventually grounded on the seabed. One important factor in the feasibility of using ice in such a manner concerns the sliding resistance of the grounded spray ice. Reports and papers from ice islands, relief well ice pads and spray ice barriers were studied in detail. This study provides both qualitative and quantitative knowledge on the sliding resistance of grounded spray ice structures. It illustrates that these structures were very stable with respect to seabed sliding.