Iceberg risk to seabed installations on the Grand Banks

• Main Authors: Croasdale, Ken, Brown, Rob, Campbell, Patrick, Crocker, Greg, Jordaan, Ian, King, Tony, McKenna, Richard, Myers, Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/accepted/?id=9babcf35-63d4-4372-ad1e-49d926b6392b; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=9babcf35-63d4-4372-ad1e-49d926b6392b; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=9babcf35-63d4-4372-ad1e-49d926b6392b

The design of seabed installations and pipelines on the Grand Banks is influenced by the presence of icebergs. Particularly for those installations placed below the mudline, scouring icebergs are of concern. In the present study, data from the Grand Banks Scour Catalogue (GBSC) including a recent update from wellsite surveys were summarized for the northeastern portion of the Grand Banks. Scour frequency was determined from the historical presence of icebergs, drift speeds and iceberg draft data, and was compared with frequency estimates derived from the observed density of scour marks on the seabed and the likely maximum age of these marks (2500 years). The probability of iceberg contact with installations below the mud-line was determined from the dimensions of the scour marks (from the GBSC) and their frequency. In addition, iceberg scour mechanisms were investigated through a comprehensive probabilistic model of the process, incorporating iceberg hydrostatic characteristics and seabed reaction forces. NRC publication: Yes