Even if the Arctic Ocean becomes ice-free in the summer, most of the year it is not, and icebergs from melting glaciers will become more common and possibly larger. This, together with frequent, powerful, and icy storms that appear on short notice, increases the likelihood of blowouts and other spills.
北冰洋还面临着若干与石油相关的特殊环境风险。天气和气候就是其中的首要因素。尽管北冰洋在夏天冰雪消融，但在一年中多数时候却都是冰雪覆盖，冰川融化所形成的冰山不仅越来越大，也越来越常见。再加上随时发生的频繁强暴风雪，导致井喷和其他泄漏的危险性大大增加。