| Résumé | With offshore exploration activity and the potential development of production platforms for offshore gas in the Canadian Beaufort Sea, issues related to proper Escape, Evacuation and Rescue (EER) systems are critical. Structures in the Beaufort Sea have unique requirements with respect to EER design and operation. The considerations for establishing an Evacuation Shelter (ES) on stable ice and the effects of the shoulder seasons on suitable EER systems in the Arctic may have a significant impact on receiving regulatory approval for operations. This area of study has been largely neglected in the past but it should be at the forefront of concerns for resource development in frontier regions. This report develops guidelines for establishing ES in the Canadian Beaufort Sea region of the Arctic. The authors have developed two decision-making flowcharts. The first helps decisionmakers evaluate whether an ES may be part of an overall EER strategy for a particular platform. The second flowchart aids in establishing the timing and siting of an ES in the Beaufort Sea. The report also presents the potential impact of personnel traveling over an ice surface under a range of conditions, and the costs of establishing an ES, including labour, equipment and financial concerns are estimated to provide guidelines for operators. The information concerning ES viability is presented in order to provide guidelines for safe evacuation to an ES on stable ice. Doing so provides industry with concrete tools that may be included in future EER procedures and will provide regulatory agencies with guidelines that may be integrated into Arctic code development. Demonstrating the viability of ES(s) provides information on one part of year-round EER methods, which will remove a significant barrier for production in the frontier gas region. |
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