This paper presents a discussion on technical aspects related to development of shallow water offshore hydrocarbon fields in areas with relatively mild ice conditions. The Bohai Bay of China represents such conditions, as does also the Northern Caspian Sea , although the design ice conditions in this area in general is considerable more severe than in the Bohai Bay. The main emphasis of this paper lies on the use of jackets and jack-ups in areas with ice, with particular emphasis on the ice loading and the introduction of a cone in the waterline area to limit the ice loads and also the dynamic effects associated with the crushing of ice against vertical platform legs. Further aspects that will be discussed are: • A comparison of the loads found by using different codes for calculation of ice loads will be given. • A comparison between the ultimate ice load on such structures and realistic estimates of loads associated with impacts from supply vessels operating at the field. • Long reach deviation drilling from shore based wellhead facilities to reach into near shore hydrocarbon pockets. • Alternative developments with use of a new type of “shoulder” breakwater to protect production equipment in shallow ice infested waters. • Development with use of piers and roads, possibly combined with bridges, to allow operations from shore based field centers. In this case the need for coned bridge pillars will be discussed.