Oil Extraction in Alaska Case Study - periglacial landscape Flashcards
Where are the oil fields in Alaska most predominant?
Prudhoe Bay, north coast
What is the approximate reserve of oil in Prudhoe Bay?
3000 million barrels
Where does the Alyeska pipeline stretch from and how long is it?
From Prudhoe Bay to Valdez on the south coast, 1300 km long
How many barrels of oil products did the USA consume in 2014?
6.95 billion barrels
Roughly how much of the USA’s supply of oil comes from abroad?
40%
Why is the USA government concerned about the significant reliance on foreign import of oil?
Political instability caused by not having energy security
When did exploitation of oil and natural gas within the USA start to increase?
1970s
Where is Area 1002 and what is its significance?
Within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, contains 16 billion barrels of oil
How much oil has been extracted from Area 1002 with current technology?
6 billion barrels
What are two of the benefits of increasing the exploitation of oil supplies in Area 1002?
Increased employment opportunities, existing Alyeska pipeline can be used so no delay
Why is the Alyeska pipeline significant in Alaska in 2021?
One of most sought-after employers, strong reputation
How much did the Alyeska pipeline cost, why?
US$8 billion, expensive due to difficult working conditions and zig-zag design to combat earthquake damage
What are two design factors that were added to mitigate against environmental damage?
Most of pipeline is raised and insulated, 71 valves along pipeline to limit spills of oil
How can gravel pads be used to mitigate against environmental impact when transporting and extracting oil?
Insulates delicate permafrost, is natural as its extracted from nearby rivers
What are two negative impacts of gravel pads being used in periglacial environments?
Changes equilibrium between erosion and depositional processes in river systems, groundwater levels fell 1m over 2km from site
What are the consequences of releasing and burning natural gas during drilling?
Flaring releases CO2, methane vented without burning - both contribute to global warming
How has oil extraction and transportation impacted the climate in Barrow, Alaska?
Urban heat island, increased average temp by 2.2ºC, maximum difference of 6ºC
How can thermal energy released during oil extraction affect geomorphic processes?
9% fewer days of temperature flux around 0ºC since drilling began
Outline the structure of ground in Alaska.
Largely permafrost with thinner active layer that thaws in summer
What is the main impact on surrounding infrastructure on permafrost?
Excess heat due to poor insulation can cause permafrost to melt, leading to subsidences and increased mobility in active layer
What is solifluction?
Melted active layer moves downslope in lobes due to over-saturation of soil
Outline what a thermokarst is.
Landscape dominated by surface depressions due to thawing of ground ice, typified by extensive areas of hummocky interspersed with waterlogged hollows
Describe an alase.
Flat, steep sided depressions, 5-50m deep, 100m-15km wide
Give characteristics of lakes formed within a thermokarst.
Depression filled with water, lakes 5m deep, 1-2km wide
