Work Begins to Remove Massive North Slope Oil Rig That Toppled Last Month

The damaged Doyon 26 rig crashed to the tundra near a ConocoPhillips Alaska camp, spilling about 4,000 gallons of diesel on the snow.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Work has started to remove the wreckage and remediate damage after a massive oil rig, known as 'The Beast', toppled over and crashed to the tundra near the North Slope village of Nuiqsut last month. The unique rig was part of ConocoPhillips Alaska's ongoing exploration program in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska when it fell about 50 feet from the company's Kuukpik Pad and an associated camp, causing a spill estimated at roughly 4,000 gallons of diesel and 600 gallons of hydraulic oil.

Why it matters

The incident raises concerns about the safety and environmental impact of oil and gas operations in the sensitive Arctic region, as well as the ability to respond effectively to such accidents in remote areas during harsh winter conditions.

The details

The rig fell about 200 feet from a pipeline, and just 111 gallons of the spilled product had been recovered from the snow as of Wednesday. Efforts to contain the spill include a 'snow fence' around the site and the construction of an ice road and pad to support rig deconstruction and removal. The site is less than 500 feet from a tributary to the Nechelik (Nigliq) Channel of the Colville River, but no impacts to wildlife have been observed or reported so far.

  • The rig toppled on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
  • Work responding to the spill and starting to remove the rig resumed this week following multiple delays due to 'unsafe weather conditions'.

The players

ConocoPhillips Alaska

An oil and gas company that operates the Kuukpik Pad and was conducting exploration activities in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska where the rig toppled.

Doyon Drilling Inc.

The company that was transporting the massive oil rig, known as 'The Beast', when it toppled over and crashed to the tundra.

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What’s next

Doyon Drilling has engaged a third-party firm to conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident once it is safe to do so.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with oil and gas operations in the remote and environmentally sensitive Arctic region, and the importance of robust safety protocols and emergency response capabilities to mitigate the potential for environmental damage.