Earth’s Cryosphere, 2009, Vol. XIII, No. 1, p. 46-54

PROBLEMS OF GAS FIELD EXPLOITATION IN COASTAL ZONE OF WESTERN YAMAL

I.V. Yuriev

LLC “Gasprom Dobycha Nadym”, 629730, Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous District, Nadym, Polar str., 1/1, Russia, yuriev@utk.ongp.ru

Results of study of the seashore stability in the conditions of the West Yamal cryolithozone are presented for 30-year period since 1976. Monitoring of seashore line on the territory of Kharasavey gas-condensate field allowed us to determine the width of “risk zone” (100 m) for safe exploitation of the industrial objects. The average coastal retreat (more than 1 m/year) and the activity of erosion processes of natural and human-made geneses have been taken into account.

Key words: Yamal peninsula, permafrost area, thermal erosion, coastal dynamics.

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