Olgoonik, UIC to support Shell operations

Shell is partnering with Olgoonik Corp., the Native village corporation for the Chukchi Sea coast village of Wainwright, and Ukpeaegvik Inupiat Corp., the Native village corporation for Barrow, to operate logistics bases in Wainwright and Barrow for Shell’s offshore exploration operations in the open water season of 2010, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith told Petroleum News Jan. 4.

Shell plans to drill two wells in the Beaufort Sea and up to three wells in the Chukchi Sea in 2010.

Wainwright will act as a shallow-water logistics hub, serving Shell vessels involved in the company’s offshore activities, while Barrow will be an aviation base, acting as a primary flight-crew change hub and as a base for Shell’s search-and-rescue aircraft. Shell says that its Cougar helicopter can provide search-and-rescue capability from Barrow in both the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

“Local content is critical to our success in the Arctic,” said Pete Slaiby, Shell Alaska vice president. “We have utilized the assets and expertise in these two villages to support our Beaufort and Chukchi operations and both have proven excellent partners as we attempt to grow our Alaska operations.”

In addition, UIC subsidiary Umiaq will provide onshore contingency services, under a $15 million, five-year contract, while Shell is also continuing its 10-year contract with ASRC Energy Services – Response Operations for offshore oil spill response. Umiaq will work in partnership with Alaska Clean Seas, the North Slope oil spill cooperative.

ConocoPhillips anticipates using Wainwright both as a base for small vessels and as a helicopter base in its early exploration of the Chukchi Sea, a ConocoPhillips spokeswoman told Petroleum News Jan. 6. ConocoPhillips plans to drill in the Chukchi in 2012.

—Alan Bailey