Abstract: The present invention provides an approach for drilling offshore arctic wells in areas covered by floating ice. A grounded spray ice drilling structure having an inner drilling platform portion and an outer barrier portion which are contiguous is constructed by withdrawing water from beneath the ice sheet and spraying the water through the air when the air is below the freezing temperature of the water. This causes the water to freeze into spray ice as it passes through the air. The resulting spray ice is deposited on the ice sheet to build up the grounded spray ice drilling structure. The outer barrier portion is built up to a greater freeboard than the inner drilling platform portion, and is adapted to laterally confine the inner drilling platform portion and to protect the inner drilling platform portion from natural ice forces.