STRUCTURAL PECULIARITIES OF ICE FEATURES ON THE OFFSHORE OF THE CASPIAN SEA, THE SEA OF OKHOTSK AND THE PECHORA SEA

摘要

Active operations for the development of hydrocarbon fields are being carried out at present in the local shelf areas of the ice-covered seas of Russia. The processes of ice formation, growth, pressure, ridging and decay in these areas depend on the climatic and geographical conditions. These determine the significant differences in the geometry and internal structure of ice features and the physical-mechanical ice properties, which are necessary for the design of platforms, terminals and underwater pipelines. The paper provides a comparative analysis of the boundaries of landfast ice and the main parameters of ice ridges and stamukhas investigated in recent years in the local areas of the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pechora Sea. The following ice features parameters - thickness, sail height, keel draft, consolidated layer, extent and fraction of voids werereviewed. A conclusion about the key ice processes in different local regions producing the greatest impact on offshore structures is made.