An oil rig traveling in the far reaches of Alaska’s North Slope crashed last week, renewing concerns about the environmental effects of ConocoPhillips’ winter oil exploration program.
The Doyon 26 oil rig, which is owned by Doyon Drilling, was being moved Friday on a gravel road within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) when it fell over, according to a court filing from Brandi Sellepack, the manager of ConocoPhillips’ Alaska exploration program.
Two people on the rig and six “initial responders” to the incident were treated for minor injuries, Sellepack said in the filing.
The crash ignited a fire, and diesel from tanks that held about 4,000 gallons was spilled onto the tundra, according to a situation report from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The exact size of the diesel spill was not immediately clear. Other chemicals on board may have included hydraulic oil and ethylene glycol, the report showed.
