Centre for Arctic Resource Development Launched in St. John's

C-CORE, an international leader in research and development based at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, has launched The Centre for Arctic Resource Development (CARD), an initiative to help unlock the potential of the Arctic’s rich – and largely untapped – natural resources. CARD is supported by $16.5 million in combined funding from the Hibernia and Terra Nova projects and the Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (RDC).

 

The Hibernia and Terra Nova projects will each contribute $6.25 million over five years ($1.25 million each per year) to support leading-edge research projects and programs, as well as technology development. RDC will provide $4 million to build a 1,260 square metre expansion to C-CORE’s Dr. Jack Clark Geotechnical Engineering Building on Memorial’s St. John’s campus.

 

“World-class, industry-driven R&D and proven operational capability is helping to position Newfoundland & Labrador as a centre of technological excellence for oil and gas projects in ice-prone regions,” said Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. “Building on the existing base of expertise, the CARD will help position this province, its industry and its institutes as the centre of technological excellence for Arctic oil and gas development.”

 

CARD intends to build a critical mass of Arctic expertise in St. John’s based on (1) the lessons learned from offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, (2) C-CORE’s 36-years of experience in remote sensing, ice engineering and geotechnical engineering, and (3) attracting Arctic experts from across Canada as well as “rising research stars” from Memorial’s and other universities’ graduate programs. Thirty full-time staff will be hired, “but the Centre has the potential to grow to 40 or more staff, as it attracts new projects and new funding,” said Dr. Charles Randell, C-CORE’s President and CEO. “Potentially, sponsoring oil and gas and/or services companies could second staff to CARD to participate in the research activities or manage projects.  The Centre will invite experts from around the globe to serve as ‘experts-in-residence’, providing valuable input into the projects and mentoring junior staff.”

 

The Centre will bring together industry, academic and technology partners to conduct medium- to long- term research and development focused on improving Canada’s capacity and capability to support safe, responsible, cost-effective and sustainable hydrocarbon development in Arctic and other ice- and iceberg-prone regions.

 

CARD has engaged the oil and gas companies that are active offshore Newfoundland and Labrador that also have an interest in Arctic development—including CARD sponsors ExxonMobil (the Operator of Hibernia) and Suncor Energy (the Operator of Terra Nova)—in a consultation process to begin making a decision chart for priorities which will lead to the development of an Arctic roadmap. This includes characterizing the environmental and logistical conditions in the Canadian Arctic, identifying a range of development options, defining technology gaps, and identifying likelihoods of success. Guided by a five-year R&D plan that has been approved by an advisory body of experts for potential to improve exploration and production in harsh, cold environments, CARD will then develop a research program and undertake research.  

 

Paul Leonard, President of Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC), said, "Research and development associated with operating in harsh arctic climates have enabled the development of Hibernia and the Hibernia Southern Extension subsea project. The research that will be undertaken through CARD will be focused on improving industry's capacity for oil and gas production and transportation from ice- and iceberg-prone regions."

 

Sandy Martin, Vice President, East Coast with Suncor Energy, operator of Terra Nova, said, “The Terra Nova development and the rest of our industry already take advantage of the exceptional harsh climate expertise available at C-CORE, and CARD is a natural extension and enhancement of that. The innovative research to be conducted at CARD will put Newfoundland & Labrador on the map as a leader in arctic research and expertise.”