Efforts Progress on Rig 26 Incident Response on North Slope

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According to the Unified Command, efforts following the January 23 Western North Slope rig move incident near Nuiqsut have progressed, allowing the second phase of the response to begin. This phase is focusing on further inspection of the structure, removal of any remaining fluids or debris, and transportation of the rig to another location.

Why it matters

The Doyon Rig 26 was an innovative extended reach drilling rig capable of accessing previously unreachable oil and gas resources on the North Slope without expanding the surface footprint. The incident and response efforts highlight the challenges of operating large-scale equipment in the remote and harsh Arctic environment.

The details

Doyon Drilling Inc. continues to lead the response activities under the unified command structure. Crews have been flushing contaminated areas with water and have recovered an estimated 1,132 gallons of spilled product for disposal. Ice road and pad construction have progressed, and crews are beginning the process of removing the rig from the tundra, starting with deconstructing and removing the crown of the rig. The deconstructed rig will ultimately be cleaned and transported to a recycling facility.

• The incident occurred on January 23, 2026.
• As of mid-February 2026, crews have recovered an estimated 1,132 gallons of spilled product.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The response team is continuing to evaluate the site, and the full three-phase response process includes final cleanup, mitigation, and remediation of the entire affected area.