Investigating the scales of fluctuation of an artificial sand island

• Main Authors: Lloret-Cabot, M., Hicks, M. A., Nuttall, J. D.
• Other Authors: The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, School of Engineering
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2013
• Subjects: artificial sand islands; scales of fluctuation; caisson structures; Arctic; First Island; Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1293580

Artificial sand islands were constructed in the Canadian Beaufort Sea for use as hydrocarbon exploration platforms in the 1970s and 1980s. For some of these islands, extensive Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data are available for characterising the hydraulically placed sand during and after the construction process. Tarsiut P-45 was the first island using the 'Molikpaq' concept, which consisted of a mobile arctic caisson system to provide the temporary structure for the exploitation. Two main sand fills were constructed: (a) a sandfill berm on which the caisson system was founded; and (b) the body of the island structure (island core). This paper presents an investigation of the variability of the sand in the berm in terms of the vertical and horizontal scales of fluctuation. This geo-statistical investigation is carried out using CPT data from the berm before and after the founding of the caisson system, and sets the basis for a preliminary discussion on the potential soil variability changes caused by the installation and infilling of the caisson structure when placed on the berm.