ArcticNet,  Statoil  Canada,  RDC  and  Husky  Energy  collaborate  on  research  and  technology  expedition  offshore  Newfoundland  and  Labrador    ArcticNet/Statoil  Canada/RDC/Husky  Energy  13  April  2015    St.   John’s  –  ArcticNet,  a  Network  of  Centres  of  Excellence  of  Canada,  Statoil  Canada,  the  Research  &  Development  Corporation  of  Newfoundland  and  Labrador  (RDC)  and  Husky   Energy   will   be   partnering   on   a   new   research   and   technology   development  program   on   board   the   Canadian   research   icebreaker   CCGS   Amundsen   offshore  Newfoundland  and  Labrador  in  April.  The  collaboration  will  bring  together  the  best  expertise   in   academia   and   industry   to   collect   scientific   data   and   execute   full-­‐scale  field  testing  of  key  technologies  that  are  critical  to  understanding  offshore  and  harsh  weather  environments.  With  a  key  focus  on  performing  a  safe  expedition,  this  unique  project   will   help   improve   safety   practices   related   to   ice   hazard   mitigation   and  provide  insight  on  technology  requirements  specific  to  cold  ocean  regions.    From   17   April   to   4   May,   a   team   of   40   Canadian   and   international   scientists   and  technical   staff   from   ArcticNet,   Statoil,   and   partner   organizations   as   well   as   local  Newfoundland  and  Labrador  researchers,  will  study  meteorological,  sea  ice,  iceberg  and   environmental   conditions   and   assess   new   data   collection   technologies   in   the  study   area   north   east   of   Newfoundland   and   Labrador.   ArcticNet   sea   ice   expert,  Professor   David   Barber   from   the   University   of  Manitoba,  will   be   chief   scientist   on  board  the  Amundsen  during  the  18-­‐day  expedition.  As  an  independent  academic-­‐led  network,   ArcticNet   provides   a   scientifically   endorsed   mechanism   that   allows   the  same  reliable  data  to  be  accessible  to  all  stakeholders,  including  industry,  regulators,  communities,  government  departments  and  the  public.      This  collaboration  will  promote  the  flow  of  best  practices  between  the  private  sector  and  academia,   allow  Statoil   to  gain   further  knowledge  applicable   for   their  offshore  developments  and  will  permit  ArcticNet  to  expand  its  data  collection  efforts,  training  programs  and  technical  expertise.  This  program  will  build  on  ArcticNet’s  successful  industry-­‐research  collaborations  conducted  on  board   the  Amundsen   in  Hudson  Bay  and   the   Canadian   Beaufort   Sea,   and   Statoil’s   two   successful   research   partnerships  offshore  northern  Greenland  using  the  icebreaker,  Oden,  in  2012  and  2013.    About  ArcticNet  As  part  of  its  Networks  of  Centres  of  Excellence  mandate,  ArcticNet  brings  together  scientists  and  managers   in  the  natural,  human  health  and  social  sciences  with  their  partners   from   Inuit   organizations,   northern   communities,   federal   and   provincial  agencies   and   the   private   sector   to   study   the   impacts   of   climate   change   and  modernization   in   the   coastal   Canadian   Arctic.   Over   150   ArcticNet   researchers   and  1000   graduate   students,   postdoctoral   fellows,   research   associates,   technicians   and  other   specialists   from   30   Canadian   universities,   and   20   federal   and   provincial  agencies  and  departments  collaborate  with  more  than  150  partner  organizations  in  

 

 

14  countries.  Since  2004,  ArcticNet  has  been  using  the  CCGS  Amundsen  as  its  primary  marine   research   infrastructure.   For  more   information   visit  www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca  and  www.amundsen.ulaval.ca    About  Statoil  Statoil   is   an   international   energy   company   with   operations   in   over   30   countries.  Building   on  more   than   40   years   of   experience   from   oil   and   gas   production   on   the  Norwegian   continental   shelf,   Statoil   is   committed   to   accommodating   the   world’s  energy  needs  in  a  responsible  manner,  applying  technology  and  creating  innovative  business  solutions.    A   growing   part   of   Statoil’s   Canadian   operations   is   offshore   Newfoundland,   where  Statoil   has   ambitions   to   become   a   producing   operator.   Statoil   has   built   a   strong  position  in  the  province,  managing  non-­‐operated  production  and  field  developments  as  well  as  operating  several  exploration  programs.  Statoil  is  a  partner  in  the  Hibernia  and   Terra   Nova   fields   as   well   as   the   Hebron   and   Hibernia   South   Extension  developments.  Statoil  has  made  three  discoveries  in  the  Flemish  Pass,  including  Bay  du  Nord.  For  more  information  about  Statoil  visit  www.statoil.com    About  RDC  RDC  is  a  provincial  Crown  corporation  responsible  for  improving  Newfoundland  and  Labrador’s   research   and   development   performance.   RDC  works  with   research   and  development   stakeholders   including   business,   academia   and   government   agencies  and   departments   to   make   strategic   investments   in   highly   qualified   people,   R&D  infrastructure  and  innovative  research.  Find  out  more  about  RDC  at  www.rdc.org  or  on  Twitter  @RDCNL    

-­‐30-­‐    For  more  information  please  contact:  Katie  Blasco,  Communications  Officer  ArcticNet  katie.blasco@arcticnet.ulaval.ca  418  656-­‐3717    Alex  Collins,  Acting  Lead,  Communications  Statoil  Canada  Ltd.  acoll@statoil.com  709  738-­‐8644  or  709  769-­‐8967    Chris  Flanagan,  Director  of  Marketing  and  Communications  Research  &  Development  Corporation  chrisflanagan@rdc.org  709  758-­‐1021