1

NUCLEAR POWER for NUCLEAR POWER for the ARCTIC SHELFthe ARCTIC SHELF

Evgeny VelikhovEvgeny VelikhovVyacheslav KuznetsovVyacheslav Kuznetsov

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”1, Kurchatov Sq., Moscow, 123182 Russia1, Kurchatov Sq., Moscow, 123182 Russia

E-mail: kuznets@kiae.ruE-mail: kuznets@kiae.ru

Arctic Energy SummitArctic Energy Summit

October 8 – 11, 2013, Akureyri, IcelandOctober 8 – 11, 2013, Akureyri, Iceland

2

Expert evaluation of energy supplies to Expert evaluation of energy supplies to offshore oil/gas production in the ice offshore oil/gas production in the ice

conditions of the Arctic shelf conditions of the Arctic shelf

Development of evaluation approaches Development of evaluation approaches

Comparison of nuclear and alternative supply sources from the Comparison of nuclear and alternative supply sources from the viewpoint of their environmental impacts, risks and the current viewpoint of their environmental impacts, risks and the current status of relevant technologiesstatus of relevant technologies

Substantiation of the nuclear energy supply as the best fit to Substantiation of the nuclear energy supply as the best fit to the volume of oil and gas production in the ice conditions of the the volume of oil and gas production in the ice conditions of the Arctic shelfArctic shelf

3

Oil and gas fields on the Arctic shelf of RussiaOil and gas fields on the Arctic shelf of Russia

4

Marine ice resistant platform on the Prirazlomnoye Marine ice resistant platform on the Prirazlomnoye oil field in the Barents seaoil field in the Barents sea (summer)(summer)

5

General assessment of energy supplies General assessment of energy supplies (1/(1/44))

Reserves of hydrocarbons on the Russian shelf are estimated as Reserves of hydrocarbons on the Russian shelf are estimated as 100 Btoe total, 80% of which is gas. The Barents Sea, the Pechora 100 Btoe total, 80% of which is gas. The Barents Sea, the Pechora Sea and the Kara Sea hold the biggest reserves Sea and the Kara Sea hold the biggest reserves

Deployment of facilities to produce 100 million tons of oil and 200 Deployment of facilities to produce 100 million tons of oil and 200 billion mbillion m33 of natural gas in a year is expected on the Arctic shelf by of natural gas in a year is expected on the Arctic shelf by 20302030

Estimated production lifetime of the Russian Arctic shelf deposits Estimated production lifetime of the Russian Arctic shelf deposits makes 100 years for gas and 50 years for oilmakes 100 years for gas and 50 years for oil

6

Which energy will be required Which energy will be required

to develop Arctic shelf?to develop Arctic shelf?

General assessment of energy supply General assessment of energy supply (2/4)(2/4)

7

General assessment of energy supplies General assessment of energy supplies ((33//44))

Estimations of required energy supply have been fulfilled on the Estimations of required energy supply have been fulfilled on the

data base of Prirazlomnoye and Shtokmanovskoye Projectsdata base of Prirazlomnoye and Shtokmanovskoye Projects Energy consumption by oil/gas technologiesEnergy consumption by oil/gas technologies:: oil extractionoil extraction 770 0 kWh/tkWh/t

gas extraction gas extraction 10 10 kWh/1000 mkWh/1000 m33

gas compression gas compression 30 30 ÷ 70÷ 70 kWh kWh/1000 /1000 mm33

gas liquefactiongas liquefaction 230 kWh/230 kWh/1000 1000 mm33

Energy Installed capacity required:Energy Installed capacity required: a) on oil platformsa) on oil platforms 0,8 GW(e)0,8 GW(e)

b) on gas platforms – for gas extraction b) on gas platforms – for gas extraction 0,2 GW(e)0,2 GW(e)

c) on gas platforms – for main gas compression c) on gas platforms – for main gas compression (total flow, full lifecycle) (total flow, full lifecycle) 0,7 GW(e)0,7 GW(e)

d) on gas platforms – for extra gas compressiond) on gas platforms – for extra gas compression

(total flow, half of the lifecycle) (total flow, half of the lifecycle) 1,6 MW(e)1,6 MW(e)

i) for gas liquefactioni) for gas liquefaction (50% (50% of extracted amount, full lifecycle), of extracted amount, full lifecycle), 2,6 MW(e)2,6 MW(e)

TOTAL (estimated, on the average)TOTAL (estimated, on the average) 5,1 MW(e)5,1 MW(e)

8

40%40% of the (a, b, c, d) capacities can be installed of the (a, b, c, d) capacities can be installed onshore, with energy to be supplied to offshore onshore, with energy to be supplied to offshore production facilities via a submarine cableproduction facilities via a submarine cable

Today there are proven industrial capabilities to Today there are proven industrial capabilities to produce submarine DC transmission cables (power – produce submarine DC transmission cables (power – up to 250 MW, distance – up to 220 km) up to 250 MW, distance – up to 220 km)

60% of required capacities should be implemented 60% of required capacities should be implemented in an autonomous underwater/under-ice form to in an autonomous underwater/under-ice form to enable energy supplies to offshore production fields enable energy supplies to offshore production fields situated 300 or more km from shoresituated 300 or more km from shore

General assessment of energy supplies (4/4General assessment of energy supplies (4/4))

9

Power facility requirementsPower facility requirements

Capacities of power facilities for offshore oil/gas production: Capacities of power facilities for offshore oil/gas production: 5 5 ÷÷ 10 10 MWeMWe – – balance-of-plantbalance-of-plant

30 30 ÷÷ 40 40 MWeMWe – – extraction from boreholesextraction from boreholes

250 250 ÷÷ 300 300 MWeMWe – – gas compressiongas compression

30300 0 ÷÷ 6600 00 MWeMWe – – gas liquefactiongas liquefaction Duration of Production cycleDuration of Production cycle

explorationexploration – – up to several monthsup to several months

developmentdevelopment – – up to several dozens years up to several dozens years

compression and transport - 50compression and transport - 50÷100 years÷100 years

Improved reliability Improved reliability Capability of autonomous, efficient and safe offshore operation – Capability of autonomous, efficient and safe offshore operation –

including underwater/under-ice conditions – at distances of 1000+ km including underwater/under-ice conditions – at distances of 1000+ km from shorefrom shore

Minimal servicing (up to complete self-reliance)Minimal servicing (up to complete self-reliance) Minimal impact on natural environmentMinimal impact on natural environment Acceptable economic parametersAcceptable economic parameters

10

Comparison of conditions for deployment of oil and Comparison of conditions for deployment of oil and gas technologies for Arctic shelf and ice-free seasgas technologies for Arctic shelf and ice-free seas

The planned scope of marine oil and gas extraction on the Arctic The planned scope of marine oil and gas extraction on the Arctic shelf is comparable with that existing in ice-free seasshelf is comparable with that existing in ice-free seas

Impact of polar regions on the planet’s climateImpact of polar regions on the planet’s climate

Lower temperatures and slower recovery from environmental Lower temperatures and slower recovery from environmental impactsimpacts

Presence of steady and season ices, drifting ices and icebergsPresence of steady and season ices, drifting ices and icebergs

Need of innovative technologies and international cooperationNeed of innovative technologies and international cooperation

11

EcologyEcology (1 (1//3)3) Nuclear powerNuclear power

50-years using of Nuclear Power in the Arctic Ocean had no notable environmental impact – even with account of accidents at the very beginning of nuclear history of the Arctic

The proposal to use small nuclear power plants (SNPPs) to develop hydrocarbon resources of the Arctic shelf is based on 6000 reactor-years of Russian experience with development and operation of ship nuclear power facilities. Operation conditions for these SNPPs would be the closest possible to reference ones

Nuclear power supplies on the Arctic shelf would be based on the available nuclear infrastructure of the Russian fleet

Nuclear power supplies for hydrocarbons production on the Arctic shelf would yield no emissions in the atmosphere

Thermal impact of NP on the Arctic Ocean waters would be local and negligible compared with permanent system factors and ocean currents

Nuclear power supplies would reduce the probability of ice oil spills, which cannot be efficiently liquidated by available technologies

12

EcologyEcology (2 (2//3)3) Fossil powerFossil power

Offshore oil production and transportation extends over 100 years backOffshore oil production and transportation extends over 100 years back Today oil contamination of the Arctic Ocean waters reaches the North Today oil contamination of the Arctic Ocean waters reaches the North

Pole and in some places exceeds already the admissible limitsPole and in some places exceeds already the admissible limits Negative impact of carcinogens and other harmful substances on some Negative impact of carcinogens and other harmful substances on some

Arctic species was registeredArctic species was registered For the declared scope of production, and general capacity of energy For the declared scope of production, and general capacity of energy

sources sources ~ 5 GWt(el) ~ 5 GWt(el) use of gas as fuel for offshore oil/gas facilities in use of gas as fuel for offshore oil/gas facilities in the Arctic would yield annual air emissions of:the Arctic would yield annual air emissions of:

COCO22 – at least 8 million tons/year – at least 8 million tons/year

NONOxx – at least 5 thousand tons/year – at least 5 thousand tons/year

CO – at least 1,3 thousand tons/yearCO – at least 1,3 thousand tons/year

In case of diesel fuel, air emissions would be even less acceptable in In case of diesel fuel, air emissions would be even less acceptable in terms of both their amount and content (SOterms of both their amount and content (SO22, soot and others), soot and others)

13

Ecology Ecology (3(3//3)3)

Nuclear power seems to be the environmentally-safest way to Nuclear power seems to be the environmentally-safest way to supply energy to offshore oil/gas production facilities on the supply energy to offshore oil/gas production facilities on the Arctic shelfArctic shelf

At distances over 300 At distances over 300 ÷500 ÷500 km from the shore, using nuclear km from the shore, using nuclear power for energy supply to offshore oil/gas production facilities power for energy supply to offshore oil/gas production facilities on the Arctic shelf seem to have no alternative on the Arctic shelf seem to have no alternative

14

Safety and securitySafety and security (1/2) (1/2)

According to the IAEA, the risk of long-term negative effects on According to the IAEA, the risk of long-term negative effects on population from nuclear power would be by one or two orders of population from nuclear power would be by one or two orders of magnitude lower compared with risks from fossil power magnitude lower compared with risks from fossil power

Reduction of NPP capacity increases sharply its safety Reduction of NPP capacity increases sharply its safety

Small capacity and better opportunities to implement intrinsic Small capacity and better opportunities to implement intrinsic safety features and to use passive safety means at SNPPs would safety features and to use passive safety means at SNPPs would reduce the damage from their potential accident by 2 or 3 orders reduce the damage from their potential accident by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude compared to traditional large NPPsof magnitude compared to traditional large NPPs

In the existing nuclear assurance framework, SNPP operators In the existing nuclear assurance framework, SNPP operators could be subjected to complete financial liability for possible could be subjected to complete financial liability for possible damage from a nuclear accident at eligible nuclear insurance damage from a nuclear accident at eligible nuclear insurance costscosts

15

Safety and security Safety and security (2/2)(2/2)

Nuclear Power of Small Capacity will give the Nuclear Power of Small Capacity will give the most safe and secure power supply option for most safe and secure power supply option for offshore oil/gas production in the ice conditions offshore oil/gas production in the ice conditions of the Arctic shelfof the Arctic shelf

16

Systems approachSystems approach

Nuclear power supplies to oil/gas production facilities on the Nuclear power supplies to oil/gas production facilities on the Arctic shelf should be deployed on the basis of systems approach Arctic shelf should be deployed on the basis of systems approach to their lifecycle implementation to their lifecycle implementation

No component should be left behind after a SNPP service lifetime No component should be left behind after a SNPP service lifetime expiresexpires

A successful program intended to liquidate the negative radiation A successful program intended to liquidate the negative radiation consequences of Russian nuclear fleet’s operation in the Arctic is consequences of Russian nuclear fleet’s operation in the Arctic is currently underwaycurrently underway

The next task will be to remove accidental radiation-hazardous The next task will be to remove accidental radiation-hazardous facilities sunken in the Arctic seas in the initial period of nuclear facilities sunken in the Arctic seas in the initial period of nuclear power deployment in the Arcticpower deployment in the Arctic

17

Nuclear power of small capacity should the main source Nuclear power of small capacity should the main source of energy supply to oil/gas production facilities on the of energy supply to oil/gas production facilities on the

Arctic shelfArctic shelf

ConclusionConclusion

18

Marine ice resistant platform on the Prirazlomnoye Marine ice resistant platform on the Prirazlomnoye oil field in the Barents sea oil field in the Barents sea ((winterwinter))

19

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention