17-20 June
7th Norwegian-Russian Arctic Offshore Workshop
PETROMAKS Workshop, Sponsored by the Research Council Norway.
Program
Vladimir Pavlenko, Arkhangelsk Science Center, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, opens the program, and I quote him directly: “[We have in attendance] Norwegian representatives from Moscow. That tells us that this is an important and crucial conference, since they are here. This is the 7th conference, the tradition is such that agenda, we take up the most important questions of arctic oil and gas development, questions concerning environment, and how people will work in the environment, traditional agenda. Have been doing this for many years, Siri open the conference from the Norwegian side” (speaks in Russian with translator).
Siri Helle Friedemann, Department of Petroleum, The Research Council of Norway: “Dear governor [etc], Norwegian and Russian cooperation – white paper two years ago, revised strategy for High North the same year, requiring new knowledge in a number of areas, value creation, international research cooperation” (speaking in English). Joint cooperation in Norwegian-Russian. 2005 Moscow, first meeting.
Meeting tomorrow networking event. Enrolled for site seeing and networking.
Pavlenko introduces Governor of the region, as presented by [name]
Speaks: “On behalf of the governor, allow me to introduce the conference, practical and scientific questions concerning the Arctic, take care of the people working there, and environment, northwestern part of the Arctic, Pechora and Barents gas province, working out at sea, Pechora sea, we have found 6 fields, quite large oil and gas fields, territory of continental shelf, and need to find more fields as well. We are also working with geological studies, rosneft, drilling on Prirazlomnaya. Working with companies and industry, fruitful and get something new and interesting from the conference” [no applause yet].
Siri introduces the next presenter: Sverre Rustad. Speaking in Russian (!): “The fact that both Norway and Russia have created positions at respected embassies suggest our commitment to [cooperation] . Every 4 years, once every parliamentary term, white paper – white paper 2013 (March). Government announced, in the future, there will be 10-year plans for staking out directions for knowledge, education, priorities in white papers. [Plan] will guide investment, white paper every four years to update the plan. Annual budget defining goals what can be done, but the plan will set clear targets, such as r & d levels, research priorities are the same—industry relevant research in key areas, meeting global challenges, larger theme of energy supply, global warming, environmental protection, the important – internationalization of science, important platform is participation in the EU programs, another program is Nordic countries, and then strategic cooperation with some country partners (including Russia)…
Cooperation allows us to do things at the national level for a small country like Norway. Ninety-nine percent of research takes place elsewhere, and we need access to that, global problems require global solutions, getting to know others better, centering on Russia’s position as a neighboring country in the High North, this is important part of this internationalization. In connection with the new white paper, new conversation what takes place national and international level. Not a priority in the previous framework….
High North strategy is one the of main pillars of Norwegian international policy. Energy environmental protection, cooperation with Russia takes many forms, initiative comes from research itself, dedicated programmes in RCN – as exemplified by this conference today, 7th framework program of the EU Russia is very important. 1500 Russian students in Norway – less than 100 Norwegian students in Russia – we want to see more Norwegian students in Russia. Norwegian University Centre in St. Petersburg.
Wishing you good luck, and although I am not an expert, I look forward to your discussions”.
Up next, William Christensen, Foreign assignments in the US and Brussels. Speaks in English. Dark blue part of the future is prime production, falling off, so we need to add on more production, the light blue represents resources from unopened areas. “Open areas and unopened areas” are the areas of the North. Opening up a new area in Barents, opening up for exploration and production this week. In the disputed area, Barents Sea SE and the areas around Jan Mayan, very important achievement, this area will be 300 million oil equivalent. Statoil cooperating with Rostneft in the upper areas of Barents, quite few challenges, offshore.
Jan Mayen shares with Iceland, reviewing resource potential in Jan Mayen. Outside Lofoten, always a discussion headed debate. All the licenses been issued in the 22nd licensing round, Rosneft cooperation with Statoil, first time Russians on the Norwegian shelf, a good thing. A lot of possibilities and Russian cooperation very important.
Highlighting petroleum research, Petromaks 2 covers research until [date]. Demo 2000 conveys demonstration. Government active in the whole chain, what we need in the north, off shore Norway. Research centers for petroleum activities, arctic technology in Tromsø.
Tarjei Malme – been out to US Chad and other places. Coordinator of Petromaks 2 funding opportunities. Introduction to new 10 year program petromaks 2. Relevant for researchers here today. Strategic research for innovation, not down stream activities, covering quite broadly upstream, universities, research institutes, industrial sector, 220 million kroner. Objective of Petromaks 2: knowledge creation and industrial development to promote development and optimal management of Norwegian petroleum resources within an environmentally sustainable framework. Thematic priorities in PETROMAKS 2 – every technology has challenges and priorities to meet these challenges.
Emphasize collaboration and networking among universities research institutes and industrial sector—competence, recruitment, research based education. 320 million kroner available for calls this year. Norwegian institutions must apply, but in collaboration with Russians. Joint call between RCN and Russian FBR – RFBR… Sponsoring program polarprog –
Text will be published in both countries – September 4 for research institutions [CHECK THIS OUT this week!] [applause].
Plenary presentations. Pavlenko: Eight oblasts in Russia in the north, and this is characteristic – good thing that many people are available, we are in total agreement with internationalization of science in the Arctic, this conference is a very good example, shows we want to internationalize things in the two countries, I have talked about this many times, internationalization of science many times, interested in activity, going on in the arctic, result of this conference will be very important, giving a sense of what we are doing here together.
Harald Brekke: mapping the outer parts of the continental shelf, for submission for Norway to United Nations about outer continental shelf. General overview of geology of Barents Sea. Plate. Moscovian set up for the arctic sea. Tectonic photo.
Leopold Lobkovskiy: taking part in many expeditions, not just sitting in his office, has written on methods of monitoring and developing continental shelf in the Arctic – a group of scientists a system to prove the continental shelf in Russia – Abnormal events – methane coming out of the shelf on the eastern part.
Lionel Camus: Real time monitoring of eco system. Environmental issues; research needs for local knowledge; knowledge gaps, Admusen Center. Ten points of oil drilling challenges in Arctic—Goliat oil field operated by ENI – last week in Shanghai, Chinese wanting to use the NE shipping route for goods, and tourism – 65000 tourists visited 2010 in Svalbard. Risks exists and increasing, border area between Norway and Russia. Two different legislation towards policy harmonization, Barents sea: maritime ecosystem managed by two countries.
Western side – risk based approach.
Easter side – polluter pay principle
Barents sea- Arctic animals not more sensitive to pollution temperate. Barents Sea, a a unique ecosystem with strong regional differences. Different from the North Sea, need to adapt create responses unique to Barents. High abundance of sponges and coral in the south west. Impact assessment of drilling mud on sponges/coral. –
Creating an ecosystem model. Integrated modeling framework, computer simulations on maritime activities, all for sustainability. – run them in a supercomputer in Tromsø. Marginal Ice Zone – ice that is coming and going in the Barents sea – see image.
No sensors for dealing with indicating oil spills under the ice. In situ burning, mechanical recovery, chemical dispersants/herders. OGP Joint Industry Project
Gaps of knowledge –
Increasing ship traffic—risk for impact of bunker oil
Toxicity studies at the community/ecosystem – level for ecosystem models
Brackish water/Shallow water
Further developing real time online monitoring technology.
Roald Amundsen Petroleum Research Center. Consortium for Arctic Petroleum Activities
Vladimir Masloboev – technogenic affects on the Arctic. Co-chairs and colleagues, thank you for the invitation. Talking about removal of spilled petroleum from various surfaces, water, solid, etc. When it comes to fighting oil spill on land, using bacteria, mushrooms, absorbents – plants absorb oil. Microorganisms on the oil surface, Rhodococcus destroys the oil droplet, properties of the microorganisms destructing petroleum hydrocarbons. Transforming pollutants into nontoxic compliance, ability to inhabit plant’s root system; increase the nutrient status of plants, aboriginal plants. Experimenting, 5 years now, on establishing plots with gas condensate and oil oxidizing bacteria in forest soils. Remediating soils during one vegetation period (90-100) days. Rolled grass plots. Roll out grass on oil. Technogenic barren before planting – Bitumen emulsion against dusting. VIPON – Shows a Pasteur in Paris as last shot – with photo of fellow colleague.
Valeri Kaminskiy, Director all Russian Scientific Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean: They opened the Shtokman field and other fields. Giving the history of the seismic development in the eastern continental shelf. 1995 – concept for the study of the continental shelf, and for licensing rounds. Licensing in the Eastern Arctic. Rosneft and Gazprom are the only companies who can obtain licensing. Shtokman — the project has stopped. Quite a lot of means to develop. Gazprom working these days more oriented towards Yamal. Statoil dumped on Shtokman. So, I decided to go to the Issues of Nature Protection and healthcare of personnel and population in connection to Development of hydrocarbon resources on the arctic shelf.
Serge Cukierman: Chemical dispersant application in the Barents Sea. Total suggesting a petromaks project on dispersant use in the Barents sea. How it could happen and legislation could move forward.
Vtsybin – Nenets – no translator—someone stepped in to provide ad hoc translation. Companies who come to the shelf are not ready for oil spills. They do not have proven oil spill technologies in ice conditions.
Forecasting in the Barents Sea.
Lars Hole: Weather, waves, currents, and oil spills. Meteorologisk institutt. Outline: Weather forecasting. Oil Drit service at MET Norway. Forecasting atmosphere 6 times a day updating. Polar low. Cold air outbreak over warm stater. Tracking system for polar lows.
Barents Watch portal [GOOGLE THIS]
Are Sydnes, Bambulyak, Camus. Coastal Environment, Technologies and innovation in the Arctic. ENPI Kolarctic programme (EU) 2011-2014. Contribute with knowledge innovation and expertise in addressing challenges posed by offshore developments in the sensitive marine environment of the Arctic
Lars Henrik Larsen— scenario of shipping disaster. Shipping in the arctic. See slides. Great talk.
Lukin A: Kova river, oil spills, repeat spills affects on 18 species of fish. 3 zones, breeding zones, lake river systems, tributaries systems, Kova river mainstream, spawning area, with each zone having different fish. Population crash of certain species, while other species become more populated and distribution completely changes.
Ivar Singsaas. SINTEF. Oil spill response analysis in arctic waters.
Summing up
Salve Dahle: Environmental session – twelve papers, occupational health, ecological risks associated with oil activities and shipping, those who have questions I hope you can bring them up to the speaker later.
Personal comments: international presentation, joint Norwegian Russian French expertise, pointed to need to think about dispersals for successful oil development in the arctic and need for regulatory framework.
Then Nenets, very often, oil companies are not mentally prepared to deal with oil spill, onshore capacity needs to be developed before going further, from methodological – polar lows are difficult to handle, a lot of observations in order to be prepared for polar low. A polar Arctic, Norway, Russia, Sweden, innovation technologies for oil spill in the arctic, coastal environmental protection, capacity building, — another using bivalves for environmental modeling, main point that environment itself causes a lot of stress for the animals, and natural variation itself causes stress to animals, just think how much oil spill would create. Shipping and transport of containers is important, and there is no preparation at all for handling such an accident, and with more shipping in the North Sea route, this would be also a likely situation. Oil accidents and Shipping accidents require attention. Fish species testing that have been exposed to oil, and the speaker pointed to pronounced change over time, is this irreversible or will it go back to the way it was, finally Sintef and oil spill response and recovery, looking at the type of oil, and its fate. Best strategy for dealing with oil spill. Then, socio economic, environmental sensing, a combination of strategies for monitoring environment and human activity, pointing to one system in Norway and one in Russia.
Vladimir Masloboev responds to Salve Dahle. How to avoid oil spills instead of how to deal with them once they happen. Not only 50 percent of those living in the Arctic are dependent upon how people are living, not just weather, how people coming to the Arctic and how they are living. We should have that for next meeting, and have more time to ask questions, not one question was asked.
Siri now talking about noting the need to have talks about people living in the arctic, and noted that we would like longer panel sessions.
Moving on to Panel number 2, chaired by Morten Smelror, Leopold Lobkovskiy. Morten talking now, about geology of arctic sea, concentrated Barents, the deep, the middle and upper part. Deep structure of the crust, shaping tectonics, and determining the way you model the heat flow (thermic field) – basic structure of Barents sea, and going back to plate tectonics, involving important origins of Timan, etc. ways different plates involved, assembled, to become the crust depends on the origins. We had sort of a coalition – Norwegian and Russian work on this issue, agree on their models, but need to have more work done, and identify where crusts actually are. Next talk sedimentary model, … lastly, what happened in the late, since middle miocene, namely the glacial history, very important for Barents sea, because it modified the top – at the mouth of the ice sheet—stability of slopes, sedimentary models, broader application. Ongoing work was also present, ice flows and movements. Ice is a very affective … some of these features are linked to gas leakage so further work to expand the understandings of pressure situations in the subsurface. And migration of hydrocarbons shifting the mass of the situation. Petroleum systems how they move and react. Six presentations all together, covering issues. Also found that we are on the same page on many issues, but need further studies and work together.
Panel Three – Kimberly Mayes, Valeriy Kaminskiy: “Very exciting day today, in session three we have heard nine presentations, impacts of sea ice on the offshore field. Drifting of ice berg, can change direction very fast within minutes. Mapping ice bergs, engineering of oil transfer of eastward of Barents sea. Protection of wind erosion and storms, using vegetation protecting the soil of melting of permafrost. Pechora sea, knowledge of soil behavior for construction of offshore structures. Combination of oil terminals and transport pipelines, exciting ways and possibilities for this. Use of traces of drilling mud. Main functions of drilling mud, field test show that samples give good results for ionic composition of water, environmental friendly way of doing it”.
A signing ceremony between Akvaplan Niva and Komi Center.
Pavlenko – “[A] thank you to everyone who takes part in the conference today, [I want to] thank Norwegian colleagues for taking the time to come here, our northern friends for hosting here at Arkhangelsk- representation from many parts of Russia [are] here, leading institutes representing oil and gas, representatives from eight oblasts of Russia, all parts of the Russia, ecological organizations involved, important for the development of our cooperation, the main aim of the cooperation, to come together and find common solutions. I would also like to say, for the first time, we also were able to conclude that we should publish the results of our work. We in Arkhangelsk will do that, and we ask you to send your materials to us in the next couple weeks, and we will publish it”.
“A few words about [the] Arkhangelsk center, doing quite a lot to prepare for the conference today. Actually, there is another big meeting taking place tomorrow, so I thank my colleagues for doing so much in preparation. I think we can say that the conference was a success, also we are going to use the experience in our work, and we will also invite you to other meetings in Arkhangelsk and other parts in Russia. For certain reasons we did not get [the] possibility to have our last session at Severinsk tomorrow, Severinks – geological institute, and we could have used it to look into ecology. I’m very sad [that] we were not able to go there, but maybe possibilities [for] next time. We changed the program for tomorrow, for our Norwegian colleagues [we] have a special meeting, without [wearing a] tie — beer brewery, we think we leave Arkhangelsk – in the morning come to the Arkhangelsk to the [?] center.
Presentations on different technologies for oil and gas, Director institute Vladimir Nikitn will come to do this, and this starts at 11AM, you will hear about our center, then we we will go to the boborova – without a tie, last part of our meeting.
First meeting – leaving 10 AM from Hotel go to presentations, discuss perspectives.
Then, those of you going to Chamber of commerce, OR, others go to Brewery.
6/14: Just heading now to Arkhangelsk for a personal look at participation in the second event of the Norwegian-Russia Arctic Offshore workshops sponsored by the Research Council of Norway (RCN).
It was my good fortune to attend the previous event, now three years ago, in summer 2010. At that time, Paparazzi Ethnography, was just getting up and running and we did not provided any on-time accounting of the first event, though we have plenty of notes. Here, I hope to provide data on many of the talks as well as give a sense of the aesthetics of the event.
See you in Arkhangelsk!
Paparazzi Ethnography 