1st International Workshop on Geotechnical Engineering in Permafrost Regions Related to Pipeline Construction

October 1-4, 2006
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska USA

[Introduction] [Download Program Presentations]

For energy security, steady supplies of natural gas through reliable transmission pipelines are vital to both exporting and importing countries around the world. The Arctic regions, including portions of Alaska, Siberia, and Canada, hold tremendous natural gas reserves. Construction of gas pipelines through these regions is a logical step to alleviate the supply-and-demand issue. The geotechnical engineering design of such a large scale project is particularly challenging. As yet, it remains uncertain how engineers can design a gas pipeline, maintaining the integrity of the pipeline structure while minimizing the impact on the delicate Arctic environment. Through this workshop, we intend to have an exchange of expertise among Japanese, Russian, and American engineers and scientists, and to share information in this field for future collaborations. The first workshop is planned to be held in Alaska where a successful oil pipeline in permafrost was constructed in the 1970s and a future gas pipeline is in the planning stage.

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn the issues involved in chilled gas pipeline design and construction in permafrost, to exchange new ideas, and to share technical experiences.

Organized by

International Arctic Research Center, UAF
Institute of Northern Engineering, UAF
Hokkaido University

Organizing Committee Members

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Larry Hinzman * Scott L. Huang * Yuri Shur

Hokkaido University
Satoshi Akagawa * Masami Fukuda

Tyumen Oil and Gas University
Anatoli Brouchkov * Vladimir Melnikov

Co-Chairs

Scott L. Huang, Professor
College of Engineering and Mines
University of Alaska Fairbanks
PO Box 755800 Fairbanks, Alaska
99775-5800, USA
Phone: 907-474-6880
Fax: 970-474-6635
ffslh@uaf.edu

Satoshi Akagawa, Professor
Graduate School of Engineering
Hokkaido University
Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo
060-8628, Japan
Phone: 81-11-706-7246
Fax: 81-11-706-7249
akagawa@eng.hokudai.ac.jp