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Project Number

538
Date of Summary

April 10, 2006
Subject

Measurement and Control Underwater Noise from Oil Drilling and Production Operations
Performing Activity

Noise Control Engineering
Principal Investigator

Jesse Spence
Contracting Agency Minerals Management Service
Estimated Completion

Complete
Description The primary objective of this research project is to identify and measure significant noise sources, paths and radiators generated from shallow water drilling and production operations on a gravel island in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea and to determine and recommend the most effective treatment for each source type.
 
bullet Knowing the equipment currently being used on a gravel island that is conducting drilling and production operations, what could be done to decrease the radiated noise entering the environment?
bullet What remedies could be implemented at the front end when developing a gravel island for drilling and production operations that could decrease the radiated noise entering the environment?
Progress From October 5-7, 2005, vibration and acoustical measurements were performed on the Northstar gravel island in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea to determine the acoustic signature of various equipment items and attempted to relate those signatures to measured underwater noise data.  Testing focused on large machinery such as power generation equipment, in addition to smaller equipment items normally operating such as pumps and compressors.
Report
AA  PDF (90 pages) “Controlling Underwater Noise from Offshore Gravel Islands During Production Activities”, Jesse Spence, Noise Control Engineering, Billerica, MA, 84 pp. April 4, 2006.
 

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