Prudhoe Bay Spill Response - Seasonal Small Boat Harbor Facility

Position:  Project Lead and Construction Engineer

Project Description:  Alaska Clean Seas, an environmental response company owned and funded by a consortium of North Slope oil and gas owners/operators, had been mooring their fleet of spill response and cleanup vessels in various temporary locations, often having to move them or put to sea during the frequent harsh weather.  They required a sheltered mooring area to serve as a safe, reliable harbor for the fleet, and to serve as a fully functional base-of-operations.

Challenges and Successes:  The floating docks, stays, and power distribution systems had to not only be strong and durable enough to survive frequent use and harsh Beaufort Sea storms, but also be completely removable by conventional means and light equipment for onshore storage during the winter when the ocean freezes.  The harbor was also planned for an area of seawater intake for oil reservoir injection, so the design could not interfere with ongoing operations.  Furthermore, the labor pool available to perform the work was not familiar with marine installations or methods, so the construction details and execution plan had to be adapted to fit their strengths.  We achieved a cooperative design approach between the client’s standard engineering contractor and a specialty composite materials company to perform the work on a unique ‘Design-Fabricate’ contract, realizing added engineering value in the cost of material procurement; and worked closely with the installer to help guide their methods, ensuring a timely and high-quality installation.

 

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