VIDEO: Response work on Alaska’s Western North Slope continued this week as crews worked to dismantle and remove a toppled drilling rig from tundra near Nuiqsut, according to a new update from Doyon.
As of March 12, about 58% of the rig had been deconstructed and removed from the site, Doyon said. Crews are now working on the rig’s substructure, which the company described as the most complex and labor-intensive portion of the deconstruction.
Doyon said the dismantled equipment will be initially decontaminated on site and then transported to another location for additional cleaning and recycling.
Response crews recovered an additional 110 gallons of diesel contained within the rig structure. The total waste recovered now sits at about 2,585 gallons, Doyon said. The company estimates the total spill volume at 4,735 gallons. Crews also assessed and removed 41 gallons of unspilled ethylene glycol from the rig’s coolant system, which Doyon said accounted for all glycol on the rig.
Doyon said ongoing monitoring indicates no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic or wildlife.
The response is being carried out in three phases, the company said. Phase 1 included initial containment and cleanup around the rig and planning to move the equipment.
