How to extract the first Arctic oil

• How to extract the first Arctic oil

How to extract the first Arctic oil

Platform "Prirazlomnaja" funkitsoniruet in extreme conditions in the middle of the drifting ice of the Pechora Sea. This is the only date field on the Arctic shelf of Russia, where oil production began and lasted for half a year. In 2014 Prirazlomny produced about 300 thousand tons of oil and as the drilling of new wells, this figure will grow. It is planned that after 2020 it will reach a level of about 5 million. Tons.

How to raise the surface of hydrocarbons hidden deep underground, water and polar ice, I'll tell you in this post ...

Top "Prirazlomnaja" looks very mysterious:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

In order to understand the structure of the platform, let's look at her chart.

"Prirazlomnaja" consists of several parts: the caisson where the oil storage, the intermediate deck auxiliary module top structure, the module housing and two sets of direct offloading devices (abbreviated COUPON).

By waves and ice "near-fault" protects the special design - from high-strength steel deflector. This wall height of 16 m, a tilted upper portion which prevents transfusion superimposing the oncoming waves and ice. Drilling rig is protected from external influences, which allows drilling in all kinds of weather. Payload drilling - 547 tonnes, it can withstand a force of wind up to 51 m / s:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

On the platform in the shift mode, each day has about 200 staff, with the change of watches every 30 days:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

The central point of control - a "platform brain", where the collection and analysis of information about most of the production processes, and manage:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

In many areas, which is located next to the oil, it is forbidden to photograph. This is the case, to prevent ignition of the gas in the event of sparks in the chamber. Although I can not remember the last time a spark of my Nikon.

They all go to the gas analyzer. If somebody needs something to photograph, use a special sealed camera mounted inside the contraption, resembling the underwater housing:

How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil

Head driller "Prirazlomnaja" platform:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

drilling occur at a depth of about two and a half kilometers. Now the two producing wells operate on the platform for them to pump oil. In operation, the platform uses the principle of "zero discharge". Simply put, all the waste - drilling mud, sludge, contaminated rainwater and snow - are exported to the mainland and are utilized:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

The extracted oil is shipped to one of two shuttle tankers - "Mikhail Ulyanov" or "Kirill Lavrov", and then transported to Europe.

COUPON system pumps pump oil in the long lasting hose. ships are not suitable to the most platform crane system allows to ship oil from a distance of 80 ± 6 m from the bead. For the safety of tankers are equipped with a dynamic positioning system, which, despite the wind and waves, allows to keep them in place.

How to extract the first Arctic oil

The transmission speed can be up to 10 thousand m3 / h (oil tanker fully load can for 8-9 hours). While working near the platform on duty spetssuda. They are fitted with an emergency gathering of oil in case of emergency:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

A mooring rope that holds the tanker with oil shipment:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

Filling tanker:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

Although the "trunk" looks small, it does not embrace, and the three of us:

How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil

Grade of oil from the Prirazlomnoye called the ARCO (short for ARCTIC OIL. The variety has a high density (approximately 906 kg per cubic meter), high sulfur content and low content of wax. The ARCO is well suited for deep processing factories north-western Europe. from this unique oil produced chemicals that can be used in road construction, tire manufacturing, aerospace and pharmaceuticals:

How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil

Tankers filling can take place both day and night:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

In order to look at the "near-fault" on the part of us transplanted from one ship to another using the "frog":

How to extract the first Arctic oil

Cab with people transferred from one side to the other huge crane:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

View from the "frog" on the platform:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

So "Prirazlomnaja" looks from the side of the neighboring ship:

How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil How to extract the first Arctic oil

Helipad:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

On the "Prirazlomnoy" we spent a night. So, I and Sasha Cheban ready for departure:

How to extract the first Arctic oil

When were leaving, the weather completely spoiled and a platform hidden behind a veil of snow:

How to extract the first Arctic oil