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Repsol Blowout at Nuiqsut

Incident Description Location Qugruk #2 Pad, on the Colville River Delta, approximately 18 miles northeast of Nuiqsut, Alaska (70.2719° N, 150.4451° W) Product/Quantity Repsol estimates that approximately 42,000 gallons (1,000 barrels) [update from Sitrep 1] of fresh-water-based drilling mud have been released to the gravel pad and adjacent snow-covered tundra. An unknown amount of gas has been released. Cause Repsol contractor Nabors Drilling was drilling an exploratory well when the drill penetrated a shallow gas pocket at a depth of 2,600 feet, resulting in a gas kick. The gas kick drove drilling mud used to lubricate and cool the drill out of the hole, onto the gravel pad and adjacent snow-covered tundra. Additional mud was pumped into the borehole in an attempt to kill the well, but that mud was also blown out. Time/Date of Incident Repsol reported the incident to ADEC at 10:29 AM on February 15, 2012. Situation Reports 02/14/2012 1930 (PDF 225K) 02/14/2012 1600 (PDF 657K)   Repsol Q2 Pad Gas and Mud Release DEC State of Alaska > DEC > SPAR > Prevention and Emergency Response Program > Incident Home