Incident Overview and Updates
(As of March 6, 2026)
On January 23, 2026, an incident involving the Doyon 26 rig occurred while Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) was operating the rig on behalf of ConocoPhillips.
- Most importantly, we are grateful that all employees were accounted for immediately following the incident and that there were no serious injuries.
- The rig was being moved on a gravel road near Nuiqsut at the time of the incident.
- The owner and operator of the rig, DDI, is leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure comprised of additional representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS). DDI is fully cooperating with agencies and leading response continuity.
- The full three phase response process is noted below:
- Phase 1: Containment, cleanup, and mitigation of the impacted area, as well as ongoing safety evaluations for working around the rig.
- Phase 2: Further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location. (This phase is underway.)
- Phase 3: Final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area.
- Response crews have recovered an additional 110 gallons of diesel contained within the rig structure, bringing the total recovered volume to approximately 2,585 gallons of the total estimated spill volume of 4,735 gallons. The team also successfully assessed and removed 41 gallons of un-spilled ethylene glycol from the rig’s coolant system, which represents the entire volume of glycol on the rig.
- Deconstruction and removal work on the rig continues. Flushing and recovery tactics will resume in Phase Three.
- Rig removal from the tundra continues, and further inspection and disassembly of the rig’s structure is ongoing. As of March 12, more than half of the overall rig – approximately 58% – has been deconstructed to date and removed from the site. As previously shared, the deconstructed rig will initially be decontaminated onsite, and transported to another location where it will ultimately be thoroughly cleaned and recycled.
- A third party has been hired and is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident
- The DEC is releasing situational reports. View the most recent report here.
- Unified Command is committed to ensuring effective communications and will provide regular updates. A list of public statements related to the incident can be found below.
For more questions, please reach out to our Unified Command response line at 907-452-0507 or email: wnsrmi@doyon.com.
·The Doyon 26 rig was comprised of several sections, some of which can be seen in the photos that have been shared on this website. As of March 6, sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the rig have been deconstructed and removed from the site. Response crews are now working on removing the substructure (section 5) from the tundra. Once this is completed, the rig salvage will be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility. (Please note that the three-phase response process does not relate to the section numbers shown in this diagram.)
The following statements have been issued by Unified Command and/or members of Unified Command or response partners.
statement from unified command
March 12, 2026
Response efforts continue following the January 23 Western North Slope Rig Move Incident. Onsite crews are in Phase Two of the incident response, which focuses on removal of the rig from the tundra. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) is leading the response activities under a Unified Command structure.
Further inspection and disassembly of the rig’s structure is ongoing. As of [March 12], more than half of the overall rig — [approximately 58%] — has been deconstructed and removed from the site. Response crews are now focused on the rig substructure, which includes the most complex and manually intensive portion of the rig deconstruction. As previously shared, the deconstructed rig will initially be decontaminated onsite and then transported to another location where it will ultimately be thoroughly cleaned and recycled.
Response crews have recovered an additional 110 gallons of diesel contained within the rig structure, bringing the total recovered volume to approximately 2,585 gallons of the total estimated spill volume of 4,735 gallons. The team also successfully assessed and removed 41 gallons of un-spilled ethylene glycol from the rig’s coolant system, which represents the entire volume of glycol on the rig.
The response team continues to evaluate the site in real time, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife.
The full response process is being conducted in three phases:
Phase 1 — Included initial containment, cleanup of the product, and mitigation of the impacted area around the rig. This phase also included developing a plan to safely move the rig.
Phase 2 — Which is underway — Involves removing the rig. This includes further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location.
Phase 3 — The last phase is final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area. In addition, this phase will include monitoring through spring breakup and a summer site visit to evaluate cleanup tactics.
As safety is a top priority, safety evaluations for working around the rig are ongoing throughout the entire cleanup. A third party has been hired and is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.
Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut. Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, are shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com, or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
March 6, 2026
Response efforts following the January 23 Western North Slope Rig Move Incident near Nuiqsut are progressing as planned. At this time, crews are actively supporting Phase Two of the incident response, which focuses on removing the rig from the tundra. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) continues to lead the response activities under a Unified Command structure.
Response crews have recovered an estimated 2,475 gallons of product for disposal from flushing and recovery tactics, more than half of the approximately 4,600 gallons of product initially estimated to have been spilled. Two additional tanks were assessed in the rig during the rig removal efforts. From these tanks, our team successfully removed 515 gallons of un-spilled product (hydraulic oil) from an undamaged tank inside the rig’s substructure for disposal. Crews also identified 135 gallons of spilled product (hydraulic oil) from a damaged tank in the rig; however, it is contained within the structure, and none was released outside the rig. Plans are underway to recover this as safety allows. This increases the estimated spill volume to 4,735 gallons of product. There are no further tanks remaining in the rig.
Deconstruction and removal work on the rig continues. Flushing and recovery tactics will resume in Phase Three. As of March 6, more than half of the overall rig — about 54% — has been deconstructed and removed from the site. Further inspection and disassembly of the structure is ongoing. Crews are working on the substructure of the rig and are focused on removal of any remaining fluids or debris and transporting rig salvage to another location. While initial gross decontamination happens if needed before leaving the site, the rig will ultimately be thoroughly cleaned and recycled.
The response team continues to evaluate the site in real time, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife.
The full response process is being conducted in three phases:
Phase 1 — Included initial containment, cleanup of the product, and mitigation of the impacted area around the rig. This phase also included developing a plan to safely move the rig.
Phase 2 — which is underway — Involves removing the rig. This includes further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location.
Phase 3 — The last phase is final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area. In addition, this phase will include monitoring through spring breakup and a summer site visit to evaluate cleanup tactics.
As safety is a top priority, safety evaluations for working around the rig are ongoing throughout the entire cleanup.
Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut. Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, are shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com, or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
February 27, 2026
Response efforts following the Jan. 23 Western North Slope Rig Move Incident near Nuiqsut are ongoing. Work remains in Phase Two of the incident response, which focuses on removing the rig from the tundra. This includes further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) is leading response activities under a Unified Command structure.
Work is advancing steadily on rig deconstruction and removal from the tundra. Roughly 47% of the overall rig has been deconstructed to date. The deconstructed rig will ultimately be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility. While work has focused on rig removal, the total number of gallons of spilled product recovered by response crews has remained the same. Response crews have thus far recovered an estimated 2,475 gallons of product for disposal, more than half of the approximately 4,600 gallons of product estimated to have been spilled.
The response team continues to evaluate the site in real time, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut.
The full response process is being conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1 — Included initial containment, cleanup of the product, and mitigation of the impacted area around the rig. This phase also included developing a plan to safely move the rig.
- Phase 2 — which is underway — involves removing the rig. This includes further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location.
- Phase 3 — The last phase is final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area. In addition, this phase will include monitoring through spring breakup and a summer site visit to evaluate cleanup tactics.
As safety is a top priority, safety evaluations for working around the rig are ongoing throughout the entire cleanup. If additional, recoverable spilled product is discovered during Phase Two — and if it is safe to do so — the spill response team will conduct spilled product recovery operations, including approved tactics from Phase One. Additional cleanup, mitigation, and remediation will take place in Phase Three.
Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com, or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
February 19, 2026
Response efforts following the Jan. 23 Western North Slope Rig Move Incident near Nuiqsut continue. Work is now focused on Phase Two of incident response, which includes further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) continues to lead response activities under a Unified Command structure.
Response crews have recovered an estimated 2,475 gallons of product for disposal, more than half of the approximately 4,600 gallons of product estimated to have been spilled. Additionally, rig removal from the tundra has begun, with initial work focused on disassembly of the derrick (the top portion and crown of the rig). Work is advancing steadily on the derrick, after which the team will continue work on the middle part of the rig. Roughly 30% of the overall rig has been deconstructed to date.
The response team continues to evaluate the site in real time, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut.
The full, three-phase response process is outlined below:
- Phase One: Containment, cleanup, and mitigation of the impacted area, as well as ongoing safety evaluations for working around the rig.
- Phase Two: Further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location. (This phase is now underway.)
- Phase Three: Final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area.
If additional recoverable spilled product is discovered during Phase Two and it is safe to do so, the spill response team will conduct spilled product recovery operations, including approved tactics from Phase One. Spill recovery will conclude during Phase Three. The deconstructed rig will ultimately be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility.
Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com, or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
February 12, 2026
Response efforts following the January 23rd Western North Slope Rig Move Incident near Nuiqsut have progressed, allowing the second phase of the response to begin. That work will focus on further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) continues to lead response activities under a Unified Command structure.
Crews continue to responsibly navigate periods of unsafe weather conditions. Spill response crews have continued flushing contaminated areas with water and have recovered an estimated 1,132 gallons of spilled product for disposal. Ice road and pad construction have progressed, and crews are beginning the process of rig removal from the tundra, beginning with deconstructing and removing the crown of the rig. The deconstructed rig will ultimately be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility.
The response team is continuing to evaluate the site and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut.
The full three phase response process is noted below:
- Containment, cleanup, and mitigation of the impacted area, as well as ongoing safety evaluations for working around the rig.
- Further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location. (This phase is now underway.)
- Final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area.
Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
February 5, 2026
Work following the January 23 rd Western North Slope Rig Move Incident continues on-site near Nuiqsut, according to plans established by spill response crews and subject matter experts. Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) continues to lead response activities under a Unified Command structure, which to date have focused on the first phase of the response: containment, cleanup, and mitigation of the impacted area, as well as ongoing safety evaluations for working around the rig. There remains no direct threat to the community at this time.
While responsibly navigating periods of unsafe weather conditions, spill response crews have begun flushing contaminated areas with water and have recovered an estimated 111 gallons of spilled product for disposal. Crews have constructed a snow fence around the full rig site perimeter to minimize the risk of migration of contaminated snow. Periodic, routine air monitoring has also been established on-site. The response team is continuing to evaluate the site and there remains no immediate risk to infrastructure, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, or wildlife.
Ice road construction, which is needed before moving the rig, is almost complete and plans to remove the rig from the tundra are being developed. Cleanup and spill recovery efforts will continue during rig removal.
Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut.
Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
January 28, 2026
Cleanup efforts continue following the Western North Slope Rig Move Incident that occurred on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 23.
Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI), the owner and operator of the rig, has been leading spill response and cleanup efforts at the site since the incident occurred. Based on known volumes of what was on board and visual inspections conducted after the incident, the estimated volumes released are approximately 4,000 gallons of diesel and 600 gallons of hydraulic oil. Coolant tanks appear intact though may have minor leaks.
Initial delineation of known, potentially impacted areas has been conducted, and a perimeter has been established around the site to minimize any future migration toward known waterways and nearby infrastructure. The impacted area has been identified and mapped using visual, infrared, and aerial methods. Based on the current assessment, nearby pipeline and waterway areas have not been affected.
Where it is safe to do so, containment measures have been deployed to prevent migration of the product. Work will continue, in consultation with spill response crews and subject matter experts, and the Incident Management Team is planning for forecasted adverse weather conditions in the days ahead.
An initial evaluation of the infrastructural hazards of the rig has been completed, and assessments are underway for rig removal at a later stage. Work will continue in three phases:
- Containment, cleanup, and mitigation of the impacted area, as well as ongoing safety evaluations for working around the rig. ( This phase is underway.)
- Further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location.
- Final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area.
DDI is cooperating fully with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure. The Unified Command’s primary objectives include ensuring the safety and welfare of the public and response personnel, as well as carrying out an effective spill response and cleanup. There is no direct threat to the community and no traffic concerns at this time. DDI will engage a third-party firm to conduct a full investigation of the incident.
The Unified Command has established a webpage where related information will be posted. Unified Command updates can be found at: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com or call 907-452-0507.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the North Slope Borough (NSB); and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
January 25, 2026
The environmental impact assessment and mitigation efforts following the Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) Rig 26 incident continue.
The owner and operator of the rig, DDI is leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure including representatives from the State of Alaska, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North Slope Borough (NSB) and Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS). DDI is cooperating fully with agencies and is leading response continuity.
“DDI personnel were moving one of six modules of the rig during the incident, and we are grateful that all employees were accounted for immediately following the incident and that there were no serious injuries,” said Andrew Honea, President and General Manager of DDI, “DDI is thankful for the work our employees undertake each day to meet Alaska’s needs, without their efforts we cannot succeed as a company.” DDI will continue to respond to this incident in the days ahead in response to regulatory authorities, our client, our Board and shareholders.
Unified Command’s primary objectives include ensuring the safety and welfare of the public and response personnel; and the fuel spill response and cleanup There was an estimated 4,000 gallons of fuel on the rig that was present on this module of Rig 26 during the move.
As shared previously, there is no direct threat to the community and no traffic concerns at this time. No pipeline infrastructure was impacted by the incident.
Unified Command are committed to ensuring effective communications and will provide regular updates.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc.; Doyon, Limited; Fairweather; the U.S. EPA; the State of Alaska, and the North Slope Borough, and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
Department of environmental conservation situational report
Updated February 4, 2026
The Department of Environmental Conservation is releasing situational reports.
Situational Report – February 4, 2026
Statement from ConocoPhillips: Alaska Doyon Drilling Rig 26 Incident Update
January 24, 2026
The incident involving Doyon Drilling Rig 26 has transitioned from an initial emergency response to an environmental impact assessment and mitigation effort. The two individuals who were on the rig at the time of the incident and six other initial responders were treated at nearby clinics and have all been released. Traffic flow has resumed and there continues to be no threat to local infrastructure or communities. The owner and operator of the rig, Doyon Drilling, is leading response and recovery efforts under a Unified Command structure including representatives from the State of Alaska, the Federal Government and the North Slope Borough. Additional details will be communicated by the Unified Command led by Doyon Drilling.
Statement from the North Slope Borough
January 23, 2026
At about 4:45 p.m., a Doyon drilling rig tipped over while traveling on a gravel road near Nuiqsut. All personnel have been accounted for, and no serious injuries were reported. Emergency responders remain on site.
The North Slope Borough is coordinating closely with appropriate agencies to ensure the area is secure and impacts are being evaluated.
There has been no reported damage to community infrastructure, nor reported impact to pipelines. Preliminary assessments indicate no impacts to the natural gas supply to Nuiqsut, and the seasonal fuel haul remains on schedule.
The Borough will continue to monitor the situation, and provide updates as verified information becomes available.
A joint statement on behalf of the North Slope Borough and ConocoPhillips Alaska, issued earlier today, is available below:
At approximately 4:45 pm today, an incident involving Doyon 26 occurred while traveling on an ice road on the North Slope of Alaska, while operating on behalf of ConocoPhillips. A fire occurred and is currently contained and controlled. All personnel have been accounted for and there are no serious injuries. There was no damage to local community infrastructure and no impact to pipelines or fuel transportation. Emergency response personnel remain on site. We will provide additional details as they are available.
Statement from ConocoPhilLips
January 23, 2026
At approximately 4:45 pm today, an incident involving Doyon 26 occurred while traveling on a gravel road on the North Slope of Alaska, while operating on behalf of ConocoPhillips. A fire occurred and is currently contained and controlled. All personnel have been accounted for and there are no serious injuries. There was no damage to local community infrastructure and no impact to pipelines or fuel transportation. Emergency response personnel remain on site. We will provide additional details as they are available.
Frequently asked questions
On the afternoon of Friday, January 23, 2026, a rig owned by Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI) operated on behalf of ConocoPhillips — known as “Rig 26” — tipped over while traveling on a gravel road near Nuiqsut. A small fire broke out on the rig, and emergency responders put out the fire and attended to personnel, who were treated at nearby clinics and released.
Most importantly, we are grateful that all employees were accounted for immediately following the incident and that there were no serious injuries. The response team is continuing to evaluate the site, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. A third party has been hired and is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.
DDI, the owner and operator of the rig, has been leading spill response and cleanup efforts at the site since the incident occurred. Based on known volumes of what was on board and visual inspections conducted after the incident, the estimated volumes released are approximately 4,000 gallons of diesel and 600 gallons of hydraulic oil. Coolant tanks appear intact though may have minor leaks. Spill response crews have recovered an estimated 2,475 gallons of product for disposal, more than half of the approximately 4,600 gallons of product estimated to have been spilled. Importantly, there is no immediate risk to drinking water sources.
DDI is cooperating fully with federal and state regulatory agencies and local authorities, and it is leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure. The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
The Unified Command’s primary objectives include ensuring the safety and welfare of the public and response personnel and carrying out an effective spill response and cleanup. The Unified Command has also established this dedicated webpage where information will be posted and has set up an email and phone line. Unified Command will continue to provide timely information and engage with the local community.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Friday, January 23, 2026, on a gravel road near Nuiqsut within the North Slope Borough of Alaska.
DDI, the owner and operator of the rig, is cooperating fully with federal and state regulatory agencies and local officials, and it is leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure. Our spill response crews, including Alaska Clean Seas (ACS), are using existing, proven tactics and working with local community leaders and experts, along with planning for adverse weather conditions.
The Incident Management Team is supported by subject matter experts from:
· U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
· National Marine Fisheries Service
· Alaska Department of Fish and Game
· Alaska Department of Natural Resources Office of History and Archaeology
· National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
· National Weather Service
· U.S. Department of the Interior
· NSB Department of Wildlife Management
· NSB Department of Planning & Community Services
· North Slope Borough Cultural Resource Specialist
DDI, the owner and operator of the rig, is cooperating fully with federal and state regulatory agencies and local officials, and it is leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure. Unified Command will continue to provide timely information and engage with stakeholders and the Nuiqsut community.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
DDI has established a phone number and an email address for concerned community members and stakeholders to reach out to Unified Command. The response phone number is 907-452-0507 and the email is WNSRMI@doyon.com.
Unified Command (UC) is an Incident Command System (ICS) structure used for complex, multi-jurisdictional, or multi-agency incidents where no single entity has sole authority. It allows leaders from different agencies to jointly manage the incident, establishing a common set of objectives without relinquishing their respective authorities or accountability. It brings multi-jurisdiction requirements together in a common set of objectives to ensure that they’re being met by the Incident Management Team.
The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling, Inc. (DDI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS).
DDI is cooperating fully with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and leading response efforts under a Unified Command structure. The Unified Command’s primary objectives include ensuring the safety and welfare of the public and response personnel, as well as carrying out an effective spill response and cleanup.
The response team is continuing to evaluate the site, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. In addition, the response team recognizes the need to maintain emergency access for the local community, and there are no traffic concerns at this time.
The full response process is being conducted in three phases:
· Phase 1 — Included initial containment, cleanup of the product, and mitigation of the impacted area around the rig. This phase also included developing a plan to safely move the rig.
· Phase 2 — which is underway — involves removing the rig. This includes further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location.
· Phase 3 — The last phase is final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area. In addition, this phase will include monitoring through spring breakup and a summer site visit to evaluate cleanup tactics.
As safety is a top priority, safety evaluations for working around the rig are ongoing throughout the entire cleanup. If additional, recoverable spilled product is discovered during Phase Two — and if it is safe to do so — the spill response team will conduct spilled product recovery operations, including approved tactics from Phase One. Additional cleanup, mitigation, and remediation will take place in Phase Three.
Initial delineation of potentially impacted areas was conducted by response crews using visual, infrared, and aerial methods. Where it was safe to do so, containment measures were deployed to prevent further migration of spilled product from the impacted areas.
Our spill response crews, including Alaska Clean Seas (ACS), used existing, proven tactics to recover spilled product. Response workers recovered spilled product by removing contaminated snow and using a flush and recover tactic. Flush and recover involves flushing contaminated areas with clean, hot water via low-energy nozzle or spray which forces the oil in the snow/ice and vegetation to float on top of the water where it can then be directed toward a collection area and recovered by a vacuum truck. Spill response crews have recovered an estimated 2,475 gallons of product for disposal, more than half of the approximately 4,600 gallons of product estimated to have been spilled.
Throughout this process, our crews planned for adverse weather conditions. Initial evaluation of the infrastructural hazards of the rig was completed, along with safety evaluations for working around the rig. Assessments were undertaken for rig removal during this phase. The response efforts have now moved into Phase 2, and rig removal from the tundra has begun.
The second phase of the response work is underway and focuses on further inspection and disassembly of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig salvage to another location. Summary of activities:
· Crews continue to responsibly navigate periods of unsafe weather conditions.
· Ice road and pad construction were built to support snow removal and provide safe access around the rig while protecting the tundra.
· Rig removal from the tundra has begun, with initial work focused on further inspection and disassembly of the structure and removal of any remaining fluids or debris.
· As of February 26, roughly 47% of the overall rig has been deconstructed
· The deconstructed rig will ultimately be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility.
The response team is continuing to evaluate the site, and there remains no immediate risk to the community, infrastructure, air quality, drinking water sources, nearby waterways, traffic, or wildlife. Unified Command will continue to provide regular updates and engage with key stakeholders, including in the community of Nuiqsut. Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared on this website.
Unified Command is committed to ensuring effective communications. To support that effort, Unified Command has established this dedicated webpage where information will be posted and has set up an email and phone line. Unified Command updates can be on this page: www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at WNSRMI@doyon.com or call 907-452-0507. Regular updates, including photos of the response effort, will continue to be shared on this website. In addition, the DEC is releasing situational reports. Links to those are also available on this website. Unified Command will continue to provide timely information and engage with the local community.