Several jurisdictional problems exist in the Beaufort Sea that may 

 hinder leasing. One is the international boundary between the U.S. and 

 Canada in the eastern Beaufort Sea which will involve negotiations 

 between the two countries to clarify ownership. 8 The second involves a 

 dispute between Alaska and the Federal government over the ownership of 

 a narrow strip of offshore lands, between the barrier islands and the 

 coast. 8t * This dispute will probably be taken to court soon, once either 

 side actually holds a lease sale. 



Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts 



Information concerning potential OCS impacts from the development 

 of Beaufort Sea petroleum resources is sparse. Much of what is available 

 was written in response to the state's leasing proposal. 



Ice is the most serious hazard facing petroleum operations in the 

 Beaufort Sea. Its frequent, forceful, and unpredictable movement 

 demands drilling technology only partially available. Present technology 



Q C 



can only exploit petroleum resources in shallow waters of up to 60 feet. 

 Technology capable of exploring and developing oil and gas resources in 

 60-200 feet of water has been estimated to be about 5-10 years away. 86 



Four shallow water drilling methods are among those currently 

 available: (1) slant drilling from onshore sites (good for up to 1 mile 

 offshore), (2) drilling from artifical gravel islands, (3) drilling from 

 artificial ice islands, and (4) drilling from sunken flat barges. In 

 the latter three cases standard land rigs are used on artificial pads. 

 Of these drilling technologies, gravel islands are the most likely to be 

 used on Beaufort's OCS. 87 



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