Technical challenges, viability, and potential environmental impacts of oil production in the Dreki and Jan Mayen Ridge region

• Main Author: Jón Sigurður Pétursson 1988-
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Jarðfræði; Arctic; Greenland; Norway; Jan Mayen; Jan Mayen Ridge; East Greenland; Iceland; Nordic Seas
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/15267

On the 4th of January 2013, the National Energy Authority in Iceland issued two licenses for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Dreki Area, there is also a third license being considered at the moment. There are plenty of hazards and risks of a possible oil spill related to the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, this paper looks to address the oceanographic conditions at the Dreki and Jan Mayen Ridge region. It also looks into the use of comparisons, historic events, effects on the ecosystem and then mainly at what area is most likely to be affected should an oil spill occur and what can be done in the event of a spill. This paper found that conditions at the same latitude, but different longitudes (i.e. East Greenland vs. West Norway) are very different. The complexity of the dynamics between Atlantic and Arctic waters in the Nordic Seas cause these differences and a characteristic of these seas are anti-clockwise eddies. These will factor heavily in the distribution of a potential oil spill and will most likely prevent a spill from flowing to shore in Iceland, Norway or Greenland. Exploration and production has been conducted at sites that endure similar or more extreme conditions and the use of a floating platform will be integral for any large operations. Health and safety management will have to be held to high standards and frequently reviewed. The main factor that will be problematic for the planned exploration and potential production in the area is its remoteness. Facilities for production and for a disaster response team, equipment and vessels will either have to be established in Iceland or co-ordinated with and on Norway.