Sphere No.44 (Mar 2018)

CHILLING WITH CKHH >> Sphere #44 2018 18 Arctic ice mass or glaciers. As the icebergs float south, they could take months to melt. Special aircraft are dedicated to locating and assessing the threat of bigger or smaller icebergs. Icebergs are the big, visible ice masses, but medium-sized ‘bergy bits’ and even smaller, less visible ‘growlers’ also pose a threat. Once an ice mass is identified as a risk, other supply vessels will be recruited to divert the ice from its trajectory. This can be done using ropes, nets and water cannons, literally towing or blasting errant ice. However, if ice density becomes a real problem, drilling rigs can evacuate the area and the supply ships then all focus on protecting the SeaRose, the centre of the White Rose oil and gas field operation, much like chess pieces forming ranks to protect the king. Those ships cost more than normal ships operating in more temperate climates as they have to be made of special cold- tolerant steel. There is almost never a break on costs when working in northern climes. The one exception is 3 Sweden’s savings on air conditioning! By using a fan blowing filtered outdoor air into the equipment room, they can save up to 80 per cent of the energy costs compared to traditional air conditioning in hotter climates. Commuting on ice Peak iceberg season is followed by a quiet window before hurricane season in the North Atlantic kicks off in mid-September. Lots of routine maintenance is done during this time. Once the windy weather and cold returns, getting to and from work can be a challenge and helicopter travel can be hit or miss as inclement weather grounds the choppers. The height of waves can also dictate whether or not helicopters can land on the SeaRose, a floating facility. For those on land in the north, extreme blizzards may make travel impossible, but the Husky Energy teams are equipped for almost any weather (with their second mini-engine!). 3 Sweden employees have a wide variety of means of getting to remote sites once the deep snows hit. Some remote areas are actually easier to access using snowmobiles. Invented by Joseph-Armand Bombardier in Quebec, Canada in 1942, they have become an invaluable part of snow travel, replacing dog sleds in most instances in northern Europe and Canada. In both Sweden and Canada, four-wheel drive vehicles, snow shovels, snow tyres, chains and spikes for tyres are all standard equipment. 3 Sweden also uses all-terrain vehicles (known as ATVs), but with treads instead of wheels. Light helicopters also provide easier access to some areas. Occasionally, a friendly farmer with a snowplough may be enlisted to assist in clearing blocked roads. All in a day’s work! Protecting Canada’s north Even when considering an emergency response to protect the environment, there are still some peculiarities to working in Remember, it’s what lies beneath that you need to watch out for. Husky Energy patrols are on the lookout! EquiPped for the ICE Snowmobile All-terrain vehicle Helicopter Four-wheel drive Snow tyre Chains Spikes for tyres