NEWS BULLETIN

February 20, 2012 --- Vol. 18, No. 11February 2012

Work continues on Repsol well

Response teams continue to work to control a Repsol well that blew out on Feb. 15.

A well control team is thawing and evaluating the drilling rig while crews attempt to bypass a drilling mud injection line in an attempt to regain the ability to inject mud into the well, according to a Feb. 19 situation report from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The crew is working to restore a hydraulic system that operates the annual preventer on the rig, and clearing mud and water from the drill floor.

Although the well stopped flowing around 9 p.m. on Feb. 16, cleanup efforts remain on hold until the crews can gain full control of the well, according to the DEC.

The Qugruk No. 2 well blew out after encountering a shallow pocket of natural gas at around 2,500 feet. While the incident sent around 42,000 gallons of drilling mud onto the snow covered tundra, it is not cause any injuries, explosions or oil spills. The kick drove the natural gas through the diverter to a vent located 75 feet from the drilling rig.

—Eric Lidji

See story in Feb. 26 issue, available online at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 24 at www.PetroleumNews.com


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