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. 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? 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?
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.