Abstract: Starting with a description of the climatological conditions of the Barents Sea, this paper discusses the challenges for development of potential hydrocarbon fields in the Barents Sea Area. Main emphasis is placed on a review of the technological challenges while economical considerations are reviewed in more general. Based on a review of feasible technical solutions for the different parts of the Barents Sea, a suggestion for Area classification of the Barents Sea is finally given.
Introduction The Barents Sea (Fig. 1) covers a large area, 7 to 8 times the size of the North Sea, and the climatological conditions, and hence the challenges, vary extensively from the western ice-free part to the highly ice-infested part further east and north. The offshore structures which are feasible for the Barents Sea will therefore not be the same for the entire area. An area classification in terms of ice conditions and feasible structures is therefore prudent. Further challenges relate to mapping of the hydrocarbon potential of the area where smaller gas fields (like Snehvit) have been discovered in the Norwegian sector, while the Russian sector holds huge gas reservoirs. While economical development of gas fields require pipelines to the European marked or construction of LNG terminals, oil developments would require less investments related to transportation. The present situation with large gas discoveries and few oil discoveries do therefore delay the development of the proven Barents Sea hydrocarbon fields. Challenges related to the protection of the vulnerable Arctic environment do furthermore pose the need for specific environmental protection programmes related to any hydrocarbon development in the area. Operational Conditions of the Barents Sea Due to the warm ocean currents, the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea has a climate which is much milder then comparable areas at the same latitude.