Rosneft moves 1 million ton big iceberg
How to prevent a drifting iceberg from running into an oil platform? Rosneft believes it has the answer.
During the Kara-leto-2016 expedition, the research partners of state company Rosneft conducted a total of 18 experiments on how to tug icebergs. The biggest chunk had a volume of more than one million tons, the company informs.
The tests were conducted in cooperation with the Arctic Science Center and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).
The icebergs had different shapes and sizes and the tests were conducted under various weather conditions. With help from icebreaker «Kapitan Dranitsyn» the researchers managed to pull the icebergs in both 90 and 180 degrees turns away. They also managed to pull away two icebergs in one and the same operation.
«These experiences enable us to secure pieces of maritime infrastructure from the impact of icebergs in industrial offshore projects», a press release from Rosneft says.
The company has over the last years financed extensive research on Arctic marine environments and icebergs. By 2016, we have managed to develop Russian-made technology on towing of Arctic ice, the company informs.
During the Kara-leto-2016, the researchers also followed up 13 underwater autonomous buoy stations placed along the Arctic coast in previous expeditions. They also did maintenance to seven autonomic meteorological stations and six seismic stations.
In the Khatanga Bay, the researchers engaged in the development of a new research station, established as part of Rosneft’s upcoming exploration drilling in the area 2017.
