Analysis of the development of drifting ice formations impact on marine facilities assessment methods

Abstract

The high resource potential of the Arctic determines the active exploration and development of these territories, in particular the Arctic continental shelf. The development of offshore fields is directly related to the issues of marine communications construction and operation in freezing waters. They are associated with minimization of environmental risks, reducing the cost of construction work, and ensuring reliable operation of underwater systems. The ice loads, especially, loads from ice gouging are considered one of the most significant loading conditions for such systems. Deformations of the soil around the pipeline during gouging may cause unacceptable deformations as a result of bending, which may lead to emergency situations. The article discusses the main features of ice gouging and the development of research and assessment methods for ice gouging impact on offshore pipelines. The article also provides the analysis of the research methods, their applications and limitations, and points out further research directions.