Nuclear Power for Offshore Arctic Oil Exploration

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the problems of pursuing the search for oil in perhaps the most costly and hostile region yet considered for offshore exploration, the offshore Arctic. The total task force for these operations and the feasibility of using nuclear power in the support ships are discussed. Nuclear power is shown to have an early economic advantage over fossil-powered ships even though the nuclear plant develops only 40,000 HP, one-third that normally considered cost effective for marine use. INTRODUCTION This paper is presented to discuss two questions:Why is the oil industry looking to the Arctic?Why is nuclear propulsion being considered to power ships intended for Arctic use? It includes results of a recent feasibility study of a nuclear-powered ship whose mission is to support offshore hydrocarbon exploration in the Arctic regions of the world. The feasibility study was conducted under the auspices of the Maritime Administration and was performed by Global Marine Inc., Babcock & Wilcox, and General Electric Company. For several years now, Global Marine has been studying concepts and designs to enable exploration for hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Arctic. The design of an exploratory unit is almost' complete and the concept of an Icebreaking Drilling Ship (IBDS) was presented last year at the Offshore Technology Conference. B&W has been designing and developing the Consolidated Nuclear Steam Generator (CNSG) for commercial marine applications since 1959. An early version of the CNSG is now plying the seas in the German Ship, OTTO HANN. In 1972, Global Marine began intensive investigations into the support that the IBDS would need because of the environment in which the drill ship is intended to operate. It was soon obvious that this environment would require a type of supply boat not previously envisioned by the offshore industry. The companies (GMI, B&W, and G.T.) joined forces in 7g73 to take the first engineering steps leading to a support ship configuration that could routinely venture into regions where year round waterborne operation is rare. WHY THE ARCTIC REGIONS? The interest shown in Arctic regions of this planet is a natural extension of the exploration and exploitation spirit of man. Whatever curiosity might be attached to the scientific exploration of these areas has recently been overshadowed by the latest problem -- a growing worldwide energy shortage. The Arctic is no longer an area to be studied merely forint$ unique weather and climatology; its importance as a potential reserve of energy resources is taking precedence. We are rapidly consuming the most available and cheapest oil reserves, yet our rate of consumption continues to increase. The highest priority is being assigned to the search for new fossil fuel reserves because of long term dependence and extensive development of uses for this form of energy. When the easily exploited land sources first showed signs of depletion, the quest led to submerged areas adjacent to land sources.