A Study of Several Pressure Ridges and Ice Islands in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

Abstract

AbstractThe environmental conditions in the southern Beaufort Sea are described with special emphasis on pressure ridges and ice islands. Techniques for determining the geometric configurations and the physical and mechanical properties of sea-ice structures and ice islands are described. Profiles of pressure ridges were determined by surface surveys, drill-hole probes and side-looking sonar scanning. Multi-year pressure ridges with thicknesses up to 20 m and widths up to 120 m were examined in detail. The first-year ridge of 22 m thickness and 100 m width was studied. Results are given for several multi-year and the first-year ridges. Information obtained from dives under the ice is also given. Corresponding data are given for grounded ice islands with particular attention being given to contact between the ice and sea bed. A 20 m thick ice-island fragment grounded in 15 m of water was one of several investigated. Measurements of temperature, salinity, tensile strength, and compressive strength are given for ice taken from old pressure ridges and factors influencing the interpretation of test data were discussed. The data obtained in this study will be used in engineering design studies for offshore structures for drilling and production of hydrocarbons from the Beaufort Sea area. Exploratory drilling in shallow water has already been carried out and offshore drilling from drillships is scheduled to commence in the study area during the open water season of 1976.