ExxonMobil in Alaska: Seward was almost an oil town

Oil exploration in the Gulf of Alaska started in September 1976 at location Maria near Yakutat. The semisubmersible rig Sedco 706 spudded in the first well for Arco, Shell, and Texas Eastern and Offshore Development. Arco also is moving the Ocean Ranger from the Bering Sea to the Gulf of Alaska to drill a second exploratory hole. There are three more semisubmersible rigs scheduled for the Gulf by 1977.

The Sedco 708, Aleutian Key, and the Alaskan Star are all expected to be in operation early in 1977.

The Sedco 706 left San Francisco for Alaska in August and started drilling in September. There are 10 units in the Sedco 706 series, and operations with rigs over the past 5 years in the upper North Sea have proved the capability of these types of rigs to function safely in the Gulf of Alaska. The rig was leased to Arco, Shell, and Mobil Oil Co. [predecessor to ExxonMobil] and will be serviced from Yakutat which will be developed as a base for other Gulf of Alaska operations.

Exxon christened the Alaskan Star at Hiroshima, Japan, in December. The semisubmersible rig will join two other rigs in the Gulf of Alaska early in 1977. Crews will be trained aboard the new vessel when it arrives in Seward.

There are three more semisubmersible rigs scheduled to join those already in the Gulf by the spring of 1977. Sedco 708 will be drilling for Sun Oil Co., the Aleutian Key for Gulf Oil Co., and a second rig which is presently under construction will be drilling for Exxon.

Seward is expanding rapidly as a result of offshore activity in the Gulf.

Three major service companies proposed building facilities in the city, and others are proposing construction of dock facilities to handle the large supply boats that will be used to service the semisubmersible rigs in the Gulf of Alaska.

Exxon has leased about 50 acres for storage, and supplies will move through the Alaska Railroad docks to supply boats.

For more see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/EcoNatRes.MinYB1976v2