76% of Rig 26 moved from site;

According to a March 20 update from Unified Command, response efforts are continuing following the Jan. 23 Western North Slope rig move incident, as crews work on Phase 2 of the response, which focuses on removal of the rig from the tundra. Doyon Drilling Inc., or DDI, is still leading response activities under a unified command structure.

Further inspection and disassembly of the rig’s substructure is ongoing. As of March 19, approximately 76% of the overall rig has been recovered, removed and transported from the site. Shearing efforts — cutting the rig’s metal — also continue on the north side of the rig, the side farthest from the road, and the crews are removing parts of the disassembled rig and debris.

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 approximately 2,585 gallons of the total estimated spill volume of 4,735 gallons. Plans are underway to recover and remove any fluids or remaining spilled product, as safety allows. This includes the removal of the previously identified 135 gallons of spilled product (hydraulic oil) from a damaged tank in the rig. This spill was fully contained within the structure and was not released outside the rig.

Evaluation in real time

Unified Command reported that 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. The next and last stage, Phase 3, is final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area. In addition, this stage will include monitoring through spring breakup and a summer site visit to evaluate cleanup tactics. Flushing and recovery tactics will resume in this phase.

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. Updates, including photos of the response effort, are shared at: http://www.doyon.com/2026-western-north-slope-rig-move-incident-information-hub.

The Unified Command Response Team is comprised of representatives from Doyon Drilling Inc .; 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).