UMR Journal -- V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series Volume 2 Article 1 June 1971 UMR Journal: Alaska -- Its Mineral Potentials and Environmental Challenges University of Missouri--Rolla Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/umr-journal Part of the Geology Commons, Geophysics and Seismology Commons, Mining Engineering Commons, and the Petroleum Engineering Commons Recommended Citation University of Missouri--Rolla (1971) "UMR Journal: Alaska -- Its Mineral Potentials and Environmental Challenges," UMR Journal -- V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series: Vol. 2 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/umr-journal/vol2/iss1/1 This Journal is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars' Mine. It has been accepted for inclusion in UMR Journal -- V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series by an authorized administrator of Scholars' Mine. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact [email protected]. June 1971 V. H. McNutt— Geology-Geophysics Department with Mining-Petroleum-Geological Engineering Department Num ber 2 UMR JOURNAL Preface Paul Dean Proctor & Robert E. Carlile Arctic Ecology; A Decade of Experience John F. Schindler Alaska's Possible Petroleum Provinces: George Gryc Geologic Considerations & Solid Mineral Potential of Alaska: A. E. Weissenborn The Environmental Challenges of Alaskan Mineral Development: Earl T. Hayes Mineral Potential of Arctic Canada: R. G. McCrossan & R. M. Procter Oil & Gas Reserves in the Siberian Shelf: A. J. Eardley Drilling Problems Associated with Arctic Minerals: Robert L. Parker Maintenance & Operation of Facilities & Equipment in the Arctic: Charles C. Norris, Charles W. Kelley & Carroll C. Livingston Arctic Pipelining - Tough, Costly, but Feasible: William H. Pearn The Environmental Challenges Facing TAPS: A. V. Cardin Arctic Oil & the S.S. Manhattan: Russell H. Venn Arctic Marine Terminals - Some Environmental & Engineering Con­ siderations: Robert L. McCollom, Jr. & William W. Moore The U.S. Arm y's Experience in Handling Petroleum in an Arctic Environment: Frederic Johnson The Role of the Independent in Alaska's Mineral Development: D. L. Simasko State Regulatory Controls on Oil & Gas Thomas R. Marshall, Jr. The Alaska Business Community's View of the Development of Alaska Wm. H. Scott The Future of Anchorage Claire 0. Banks Acknowledgement of Symposium Moderators Paul Dean Proctor Alaska— Its Mineral Potentials Robert E. Carlile and Environmental Challenges Editors University of Missouri-Rolla Founded 1870 as the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy The University of Missouri-Rolla Founded 1870 as the University of Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ................................................................. Paul Dean Proctor & Robert E. Carlile . 3 Arctic Ecology; A Decade of Experience . John F. Schindler ................................... 5 Alaska’s Possible Petroleum Provinces: .. George G ryc ............................................. 11 Geologic Considerations & Solid Mineral Potential of A laska:.................... ................. A. E. Weissenborn ................................ 19 The Environmental Challenges of Alaskan Mineral Development................................... Earl T. Hayes............................................. 27 Mineral Potential o f A rctic C an ad a:............. R. G. McCrossan & R. M. Procter ... 31 Oil & Gas Reserves in the Siberian Shelf:. A. J. E a rd le y ........................................ 39 Drilling Problems Associated with Arctic M inerals:............................................................ Robert L. Parker ..................................... 43 Maintenance & Operation of Facilities & Equipment in the A rctic:........................... Charles C. Norris, Charles W. Kelley & Carroll C. Livingston ......................... 45 Arctic Pipelining - Tough, Costly, but F e a sib le :............................................................ William H. Pearn ............... 53 The Environmental Challenges Facing T A P S :................................................................. A. V. Cardin ......................... 61 Arctic Oil & the S. S. Manhattan: ............... Russell H. Venn .................. 67 Arctic Marine Terminals - Some Environmental & Engineering Robert L. McCollom, Jr. & Considerations:............................................... William W. M o o re ............. 73 The U.S. Army’s Experience in Handling Petroleum in an Arctic Environment: .. Frederic Johnson ............... 83 The Role of the Independent in Alaska’s Mineral Development:................................... D. L. Simasko ............. 87 State Regulatory Controls on Oil & Gas . Thomas R. Marshall, Jr.. .. , . 93 The Alaska Business Community’s View of the Development of Alaska ...................... Wm. H. Scott . ............... 99 The Future of Anchorage .............................. Claire O. Banks .................. 103 Acknowledgement of Symposium Moderators ............................................... 109 UMR Journal, No. 2 (June 1971) 3 PREFACE Because this university, formerly under the well known title of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, has contributed so much to the nation’s and world’s mineral supplies through the work of its well trained graduates, it was considered appropriate that a major symposium be held during its Centen­ nial Year on one of the last major mineral frontiers of the United States......Alaska. Preliminary planning for the symposium on “Alaska, Its Mineral Potentials and Environmental Challenges” began in the fall of 1969. In January, 1970, Robert E. Carlile and Paul Dean Proctor visited Alaska to meet with some of the petroleum and mineral industry personnel. The purpose of the journey was to personally invite some of the experts who could directly relate to this Centennial Symposium. The warm hospitality, graciousness, and suggestions of industry and government leaders gave much impetus to the finalization of the program and the plans. Formal invitations were extended to various individuals who had in-depth experience in Alaska or direct interest in the Arctic areas to participate in this Centennial Symposium. Objectives were to give platform presentation and audience discussion to important aspects of the petroleum-solid mineral potential of this frontier state of America and the adjacent arctic lands and continental shelf. Because of the unusual climatic setting other speakers were invited to discuss the challenges of this environment in discovering, recovering, and transporting the potential mineral wealth of Alaska. The state consists mainly of public domain and state lands, hence other speakers were invited to present the government’s views on oil and gas developments on these lands and the Alaskan business communities viewpoint on the possible future progress of Alaska. Special recognition has been given the various authors of the papers, but exceptional efforts were extended by the moderators who so ably assisted in the symposium presentation. Short biographical and alphabetically listed sketches are included for each of the external moderators with our sincere thanks for their considerable help. Similar concise biographical information on each of the authors is included at the end of each of the papers. The paper presentations includes an introductory paper on Arctic Ecology, by Dr. John Schindler, Assistant Director of the Naval Research Laboratory, Point Barrow, Alaska. Regrettably, Dr. Max Brewer, Director, Naval Research Laboratory was unable to include his presentation on “What We Should Know About the Arctic Environment”. Following the ecological paper, George Gryc and A1 Weissenborn of the U.S. Geological Survey present data on the energy fuels and solid mineral potentials of Alaska. Dr. Earl Hayes, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Bureau of Mines then relates to the environmental challenges of Alaskan mineral resources. Co-authors, Drs. R. G. McCrossan and R. Procter, of the Canadian Geological Survey, review the mineral potential of Arctic Canada. Dr. A. J. Eardley’s paper on Oil and Gas Reserves in the Siberian Shelf extends the prognostications on the Arctic basin. The latter author specifically asked that it be indicated he was substituting for Russian authors who had been invited but could not attend. With the good potential for petroleum which exists, consideration was then given to physical exploration by drilling and to the unique problems encountered in the handling of equipment under the rigorous arctic conditions. Robert L. Parker, President of the Parker Drilling Company discusses prob­ lems in such an environment. Charles C7 Norris of William Brothers Engineering Company describes the maintenance and operation of facilities and equipment in the Arctic. William Pearn discusses details of “Pipeline Design for Arctic and Subarctic Regions”, and A. V. Cardin, Chief Engineer, TAPS, specifically relates to the environmental challenges facing construction of TAPS. Russell Venn, Vice President, Humble Oil Company, expertly discussed details of the epic voyage of the S. S. Manhattan through the Northwest passage. With the possibility that oil might be transported by ship or submarine from north­ ern Alaska, Robert L. McCollom and William Moore present interesting views on arctic marine terminals and their environmental and engineering considerations.