Alaska

US Blames Shell For Mishaps, Remains Committed To Arctic Drilling

John Ryan — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:16:23 +0000

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar had some tough words for Shell Oil Thursday as he announced the results of an investigation into Shell's Alaskan accidents in 2012. But he did not announce the tough consequences that environmentalists were hoping for in the wake of Shell’s year of Arctic mishaps.

Interior Dept., Coast Guard To Probe Shell’s Arctic Drilling Mishaps

John Ryan — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:05:22 +0000

The Obama administration launched a sweeping inquiry into Shell Oil’s Arctic drilling program on Tuesday. The probe, to be completed within 60 days, will look at the company’s mishaps in Alaska and in Puget Sound.

The announcement from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar comes a week after Shell’s Kulluk oil rig ran aground in the Gulf of Alaska.

Shell’s Beached Kulluk Oil Rig Towed To Safe Harbor

John Ryan — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:40:39 +0000

A shipwrecked oil rig that was bound for Seattle has been floated off the rocks and towed to a safe harbor in the Gulf of Alaska. A fleet of nine ships accompanied Shell Oil’s Kulluk drill rig on the 45-mile tow. Shortly before noon Pacific Time, the rig reached its anchorage in sheltered Kiliuda Bay on Kodiak Island.

Shell's Seattle-Bound Oil Rig Evacuated, Lost, Recovered In Gulf Of Alaska

John Ryan — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:58:43 +0000

UPDATE: The Kulluk ran aground late Monday night, with 150,000 gallons of diesel and oil on board.

A floating oil rig that was abandoned on Saturday in heavy seas in the Gulf of Alaska is being towed away from land — a second time.

Landslides And Climate Change: Lessons From Alaska For Seattle

Ross Reynolds — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:07:23 +0000

Landslide season has begun. That's when we hear stories about houses sliding down Seattle's famously steep slopes. But according to geologist "Hig" Higman, landslide season is about to get even hairier.