Development of the hydrocarbon resources of the Russian Federation continental shelf is the largest infrastructure project.
Unique explored oil and gas reserves simultaneously represent a complex science-intensive technical task associated with the offshore geological exploration, well drilling, production, and transportation of the hydrocarbons. Article discusses technical solutions proposed by the authors for the safe development of the Kamennomysskoye-Sea and Semakovskoye gas fields located in the shallow waters of the Ob and Taz bays of the Kara Sea. According to the results of engineering-geological surveys and marine electrical exploration, it is established that the frozen soils are widespread on the banks of the bays and partly in the water area at a distance of up to 100 m from the coast.
Construction and operation of the gas wells and offshore pipelines in the Arctic zone are associated with complications caused by the formation of thawing halos in the near-wellbore space and the soils of gas pipelines foundation. As a result, near-mouth subsidence of soil, deformation of structures and piping of wells, collapse of the coastal slope in the area of gas pipeline landfall are possible. In order to avoid these negative phenomena and improve the operational reliability of engineering facilities, new technical solutions are proposed, the use of which will improve the industrial and environmental safety of expensive projects.
As such solutions based on the numerical thermal engineering modeling, the following is proposed.
Creation of an ice-ground cantilever due to the joint operation of thermal stabilizers and heat-insulated lift pipes in order to reduce the thermal effect of gas production wells on the host soils. This will allow to reduce the distance between the wellheads, ensuring safety and reducing the cost of backfilling multi-well pads.
Local thermal stabilization of soils at the base of gas pipelines is possible with the use of thermal stabilizers installed with a certain step, the size of which is determined by the results of heat engineering, deformation, and strength calculations.
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