Massive drilling rig topples over on North Slope; no serious injuries reported
- Mark Sabbatini
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
Video shows 165-high mast shattering as it hits the ground; DEC says it is monitoring the situation
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
This is a developing story.
A 165-foot high drilling rig toppled over Friday afternoon while being moved on a gravel road on the North Slope on Friday afternoon, according to company officials and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
"I was informed that Doyon Drilling Rig 26 toppled over as it was being moved and I have been in contact with ConocoPhillips leadership," Dunleavy wrote in a social media message shortly after 7:30 p.m. "There was a small fire, but so far appears to be no injuries, minimal damage to the environment and no impact to oil infrastructure or facilities. They are responding with a team, working on plans to recover the rig, and we will know more as they assess."
A video shared widely on social media shows the rig apparently shattering as it hits the ground.
The incident involving the Doyon 26 rig occurred at about 4:45 p.m., according to a joint statement by ConocoPhillips and the North Slope Borough.
"All personnel have been accounted for, and no serious injuries have been reported," the statement notes. "Preliminary assessments indicate no impacts to community infrastructure, pipelines, or the natural gas supply to Nuiqsut, and the seasonal fuel haul remains on schedule. The Borough is coordinating closely with appropriate agencies and will continue to share updates as verified information becomes available."
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, in a statement, noted the department "is aware of the mobile drill rig incident on the North Slope and is actively monitoring the situation."
"DEC staff are committed to working with company officials to oversee containment and ensure all regulatory protocols are followed," the statement adds. "We look forward to a thorough assessment and a safe recovery process."
The Doyon 26 rig is described as the largest mobile land drilling rig in North America in a ConocoPhillips press release issued in 2022. It set a new record that year with a well extending 6.7 miles into the Earth, and the company states it can drill up to 7.5 miles deep and extract oil from a 150-square-mile area.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
