Co-ordinated Scientific Drilling in the Beaufort Sea:
Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
February 12-15, 2012
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this workshop is to define and integrate the scientific questions and drilling strategies required to assess environmental change and geohazards in the Beaufort Sea. The range of interrelated themes include the long-term glacial and sea-level history of the region; the global and regional significance of paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic conditions in the Beaufort Sea and Western Arctic; the critical boundary conditions and process linkages associated with permafrost and gas hydrate aggradation and degradation on the shelf; and how these processes are related to regional slope stability and geohazards.
The workshop will specifically aim to:
- Define and integrate outstanding questions and hypotheses that need to be addressed through scientific drilling in the Beaufort Sea
- Identify key sites and drilling/instrumentation strategies required to answer these questions
- Address the associated technological challenges and potential drilling platforms
- Coordinate the collection of new and synthesis of existing site survey data
The anticipated outcome is a co-ordinated drilling and borehole instrumentation strategy that could be implemented through a linked IODP/ICDP proposal. The importance of such an effort was highlighted in the recently published IODP-INVEST report which recognized that “An integrated investigation of the stability of permafrost at the Arctic continental margin to the response of deepwater gas hydrates on the associated continental shelf would form an excellent opportunity to collaboratively link IODP and ICDP in a field of investigation of great societal relevance” (page 89).
The workshop will build upon an existing IODP pre-proposal targeting paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic records from the Mackenzie Trough, as well as an emerging ICDP proposal for offshore hydrate and permafrost drilling on the Beaufort Shelf. However, the scientific questions and potential drilling locations are not limited by these existing efforts.
The workshop is funded by IODP-MI, IODP-Canada, ICDP-Canada and Natural Resources Canada. The workshop is limited to 75 participants, and applicants from international academic, industry and government organisations are welcome. Graduate, post-graduate and early career scientists are especially encouraged to apply. Limited support is available to help cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for some participants. Those wishing to be considered for travel support are requested to fill in the appropriate section of the application form. Anyone wishing to attend the workshop is required to complete and submit the linked application form by Friday, December 16, 2011.
For further information please contact a member of the organising committee.
LOCATION AND VENUE
The workshop will run from February 12-15, 2012, at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada (www.deltalodgeatkananaskis.com). The Delta Kananaskis is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, 120 km kilometres from Calgary International Airport. Participants are encouraged to stay at the Delta Kananaskis for the duration of the workshop. More information on transportation from the airport to the Delta Kananaskis will be provided after the registration deadline.
Delta Lodge at Kananaskis
1 Centennial Drive
Kananaskis Village
Alberta, T0L 2H0
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
See the workshop flyer for a more detailed schedule.
| SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12: | Reception/Icebreaker |
|---|---|
| EVENING | Reception/Icebreaker |
| MONDAY FEBRUARY 13: | Defining Scientific Questions |
|---|---|
| MORNING | Introduction and Workshop Goals |
| Invited Talks: Geologic Setting | |
| Invited Talks: Paleoclimate, Paleoceanography and Glacial History |
|
| AFTERNOON | Invited Talks: Hydrates and Permafrost |
| Break-out Groups: Defining Scientific Questions | |
| Posters |
| TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14: | Site Selection |
|---|---|
| MORNING | Invited Talk: An industry perspective on Geohazards in the Beaufort Sea |
| Presentations from break-out groups and open discussion on key scientific questions | |
| Open Session: Existing proposals, potential drilling sites and themes | |
| AFTERNOON | Invited Talk: Drilling technologies and potential platforms for operating in the Beaufort Sea |
| Break-out Groups: Site selection and drilling/instrumentation requirements | |
| Presentations by break-out groups and open discussion | |
| Posters |
| WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15: | Site survey data and the way forward |
|---|---|
| MORNING | Invited Talks: Site survey requirements and existing data |
| Break out Groups: Site survey requirements for identified drilling targets/sites |
|
| Invited Talk: Linking IODP/ICDP in a joint drilling venture | |
| Open Discussion: The way forward-Planning a linked IODP/ICDP Proposal | |
| Closing remarks (Conference ends at 12:00) |
ORGANISING AND SCIENTIFIC STEERING COMMITTEE
| ORGANISING COMMITTEE | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Matt O’Regan oreganM1@cardiff.ac.uk |
 |
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University |
|
Anne de Vernal devernal.anne@uqam.ca |
 |
GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Québec |
|
Scott Dallimore Scott.Dallimore@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca |
|
Geological Survey of Canada, British Columbia |
|
Pierre Francus Pierre.Francus@ete.inrs.ca |
|
Centre Eau, Terre & Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec |
| SCIENCE STEERING COMMITTEE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Claude Hillaire-Marcel | |
GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Québec |
| Martin Jakobsson |  |
Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University |
| David Mosher | |
Geological Survey of Canada, Nova Scotia |
| Charles Paull |  |
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, California |
| Andre Rochon | |
Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER) & GEOTOP, Rimouski, Québec |
| Tats Sakamoto |  |
Institute of Biogeosciences, Yokosuka |
| Doug Schmitt | |
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta |
| Ruediger Stein |  |
Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven |
