[QUOTE=rshrew;95479]It’s a long tow to dry dock in Korea…[/QUOTE]
Wherever they go from Kodiak, there will be more people that know what time the 96, 48 and 24hr weather forecasts are issued then did on the Dutch to Kodiak leg.
K.C.
A pair of photos are on the Unified Command’s Flicker Feed. There might be more if somebody goes searching other USCG imagery sites but as others have noted they seem to be especially tight lipped about the state of the rig. I suppose the next set of SEC filings will be interesting if you know what to read.
Shell Drill Rig Kulluk Heavily Damaged – To Be Put on Oceangoing Drydock and Moved to Asia
By: EdwardTeller Monday January 28, 2013 11:59 am
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Kulluk on the beach 01:01:13
I have now received word from two anonymous sources on Kodiak Island that it appears damage assessment of the Shell Oil drill rig Kulluk is far worse than has been thus far disclosed by the Unified Command:
Severe hull damage, making it unsafe to tow it to Puget Sound.
Severe power plant damage from saltwater contamination
Severe damage to wiring, ventilation and other internal control systems
Supposedly, a very large, oceangoing dry dock will be underway soon to Kodiak from Asia, and the rig will then be brought to Asia, most likely Korea, where it has been worked on before.
At present, the rig is being attended in Kiliuda Bay, an the southern shore of Kodiak Island by the tugs Pt. Oliktok, Warrrior, Lauren Foss, Ocean Wave and Corbin Foss. Also on the scene is the anchor-handling vessel Aiviq, oil service vessel Nanuq, and the recently arrived oil service vessel, Sisuaq. Several other smaller vessels are also present. The Kulluk is now at anchor in the bay.
Kulluk attendees - 01:28:2013 @ 10-30 am
I called the 17th U.S. Coast Guard District headquarters this morning for possible confirmation. I was told they have no public information, and referred to Shell Alaska’s press representative, Jennifer Taylor. She did not answer my call, and there was no message service. The Unified Command HQ has ceased to list a contact phone. I contacted Shell’s U.S. media relations for the Kulluk incident, and was able to leave a message. I also left a message with the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Oil Spill Prevention and Response.
The latest information published by the Unified Command on the vessel’s condition was posted back on January 18th, nine days ago. In the UC release, it was stated in part:
• Multiple entities are involved in the review of data, including: the U.S. Coast Guard, Shell, Smit Salvage and Det Norske Veritas. These reports involve precise calculations; it is important to ensure the accuracy of any reports in order to develop the next steps for the Kulluk. At this time there is no firm date for completion of the damage assessment report.
• Once the damage report is completed, the Kulluk and any plans to move the vessel will be evaluated before it is moved to its next location.
• Water did enter some spaces of the vessel through damaged hatches. However, the water has been captured and is being safely stored in a compartment.
• The damage discovered on the Kulluk is consistent with what is expected from a vessel of this type being on hard ground. The fuel tanks are intact.
• Points of entry for water into the Kulluk are being sealed (i.e., windows and hatches). Additionally, tow brackets are being added for preparation for the next move.
Alaska blogger, Steve Aufrecht was just one of many who has been frustrated by the extended news blackout at Unified Command. He has written several posts on the incident and is increasingly frustrated by his inability to find out anything of substance:
But they aren’t just mum about damage extent. They are mum about everything. At least at the news briefings there was a chance to ask questions to real people. But the last one, to my knowledge, was January 5.
Aufrecht is a retired Professor Emeritus of Public Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the fact that he is this upset is significant.
Alaska’s leading maritime oil spill expert, retired University of Alaska Professor, Richard Steiner feels that if my Kodiak information on Shell’s Asia renovation and repair plans turns out to be accurate, Shell’s 2013 Alaska drilling season, perhaps even 2014′s, are non-starters.
Thursday, I discovered that Sen. Mark Begich’s proposed hearing (he’s chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard) on the Kulluk and Shell’s readiness to drill off our shores will be held sometime in March. I asked his office the following questions:
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When will the hearing or hearings take place?
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Where will they be?
-
Will witnesses be sworn in?
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Do you plan on subpoenaing any documents, such as the Aiviq log book, correspondence and phone records between Shell and the Aiviq crew prior to departure from Dutch Harbor, or other important records?
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Will the entire subcommittee participate?
Friday, in Washington DC, a small number of pro-environment organizations held a congressional briefing on Shell’s 2012 string of screwups and near-disasters:
Environmentalists from Alaska are hoping to persuade Congressional staffers Shell Oil should not continue its drilling operation in the Arctic this summer.
The groups held a Congressional briefing on Friday.
Congressional briefings are free of the formalities and TV cameras of Congressional hearings. And they lack the members of Congress themselves.
And many in this town think that’s a good thing, because it’s the staffers who attend the briefings. And it’s the staffers who have the policy expertise. The briefing was organized by the office of California Democrat Barbara Boxer – she chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
I suppose one aspect of Shell’s attempting to hide this as long as they can may be the impact such adverse news will have on the value of their stock share price.
I’ve seen a lot of poorly managed operations in Alaska over the years, but this clusterfuck (a term first used by my informant at the Arctic Challenger containment dome testing fiasco, several clusterfucks ago) clearly sets a new standard of haplessness, negligence, lies and coverups.
Photo by US Coast Guard, public domain
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Tags: Kulluk, Shell oil arctic drilling, Unified Command, Steve Aufrecht, Off
COMMENT: If there is any truth to any of this, it doesn’t sound very good. But it certainly won’t be any surprise if Dockwise arrives to lift KULLUK to Asia.
Shell may have a good reason to withhold information but what about the Coast Guard? The Coast Guard is supposed to be looking out for the public’s interest not Shell Oil. Perhaps they are confused as to who they are working for.
K.C.
I just got word (from someone that might know) indicating that Shell has a vessel underway to pick up KULLUK.
It does look like the USCG is really looking out for Shell. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing for the future of Arctic drilling, energy independence, and American jobs.
How could any vessel go aground on a totally exposed lee shore in 40 foot seas and pound for a few days without suffering substantial damage? No surprise there.
so now what about that miserable piece of shit otherwise known as the NOBLE DISCOVERER? How many more hundreds of millions of dollars does Shell sink into that great rusty pit of a drillship?
[QUOTE=tugsailor;98092]I just got word (from someone that might know) indicating that Shell has a vessel underway to pick up KULLUK.
It does look like the USCG is really looking out for Shell. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing for the future of Arctic drilling, energy independence, and American jobs.
How could any vessel go aground on a totally exposed lee shore in 40 foot seas and pound for a few days without suffering substantial damage? No surprise there.[/QUOTE]
American jobs maybe due to the Jones Act but there is no such thing as energy independence for any country. It is a world market and these oil companies sell to the highest bidder. Shell is not an American company and as a practical matter no major considers themselves to be USA companies. The CEO of Exxon let it be known years ago during congressional testimony that Exxon answers to their shareholders and the world market not the USA. The entire energy independence BS is just that.
I hope if and when they life her out of the water someone gets some pictures and puts them out for all to see.
Arctic 2013?
KULLUK certainly appears to be out for at least 2013. Given KULLUK’s age, the reported extent of water damage to the systems and wiring, the time and money required for repairs, and the legacy of this unfortunate incident, is KULLUK worth repairing?
If Shell still plans to drill in 2013 what are its other options? NOBLE DISCOVERER and STENA DRILLMAX ICE? (I note that STENA ICE is post Panamax so it would be a long steam to get there). There must be some other suitable rigs?
There really isn’t much ice up there anyway during the small summer drilling window. Do they really need an ice class rig?
I sure hope Shell finds someway to get back up in the Arctic this coming season and find enough oil to justify building some nice new rigs to work up there.
And everyone thought ccaptain was nuts for saying it would happen that way.
From Alaska Journal of Commerce
Feb 14, 2013 - 11:11 AM AKST
[B]Shell prepares Kulluk for move[/B]
Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce
Shell is readying its damaged drill vessel Kulluk to be towed from Kiliuda Bay on Kodiak Island, in southern Alaska, to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, as the first part of a move to a shipyard in Asia for repairs of damage suffered when the Kulluk grounded Dec. 31 in a storm.
"This decision (to move the vessel) is based on independent review by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) validating that the Kulluk's structural integrity and stability, post grounding, is sound for towing. Shell has received DNV Class Certification and Flag State approval for the Kulluk," wrote the Unified Command, the joint Shell/U.S. Coast Guard team managing the Kulluk incident, in a statement issued Feb. 13.
The statement also said the Unified Command's work is complete, and that Coast Guard and Shell personnel are returning to normal duties.
“The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the activities involved in prepping the Kulluk for movement and I will lift the Captain of the Port order once all the requirements have been met,” said Capt. Paul Mehler III, the Coast Guard federal on-scene coordinator, in the statement.
After weeks of thorough assessment, analysis and on board activity, Shell confirmed that the Kulluk is safe to tow out of Kiliuda Bay, Shell coordinator Sean Churchfield said in the statement.
“The completion of the damage assessment revealed that the inner hull of the Kulluk was not breached and that all fuel tanks remain intact. The outer hull did receive damage as expected with a vessel being aground during adverse weather," the statement said. “In addition, the Kulluk encountered water damage to its superstructure which resulted in damage to technical equipment and a breach of windows and hatches.”
[B]The Kulluk will be towed by three ocean-going tugs to Dutch Harbor and accompanied by the response vessel Nanuq. The transit time is approximately 10 days, the statement said. At Dutch Harbor the drill vessel will be prepared for its "dry-tow" to a shipyard in Asia, which will be done with a specialized heavy-lift vessel.[/B]
The Kulluk was used by Shell in its 2012 summer exploration in the Arctic. It was being towed from Dutch Harbor to Seattle for winter maintenance in December when it encountered a severe storm in the Gulf of Alaska south of Kodiak. Shell was able to move the Kulluk off the gravel beach where it had grounded and to the protected Kiliuda Bay, about 30 miles away, on Jan. 6.
The company is making no predictions on whether the Kulluk, as well as the Noble Discoverer, a second drill ship Shell had used, can be returned to the Arctic in time for Shell’s planned 2013 drilling season. Federal rules require the company to have two drillships in the region when drilling to hydrocarbon-bearing formations is underway so that one can come to the assistance of the other if there is a problem.
[LEFT]
Read more: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/February-Issue-2-2013/Shell-prepares-Kulluk-for-move/#ixzz2L6jJtEYF
[/LEFT]
Alaska Native News
Kulluk Response Unified Command to Stand Down
By Unified Command Joint Information Center 02/13/2013 19:43:00
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Kulluk Response Unified Command to Stand Down
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Unified Command met its objectives for the Kulluk response and will stand down Wednesday afternoon.
“Agency representatives will return to their normal roles and responsibilities," said Capt. Paul Mehler III, the Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator. “The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the activities involved in prepping the Kulluk for movement and I will lift the Captain of the Port order once all the requirements have been met."
“Our objectives for the duration of this response have been to ensure the safety of all responders involved, protect the environment, and prepare the Kulluk for its next port. Thanks to the hard work and professionalism of all those involved in this extraordinary effort, we have achieved these goals,” said Sean Churchfield, Shell Incident Commander. “I want to thank all of the individuals involved in the recovery effort for their dedication to ensuring a successful outcome.”
After weeks of thorough assessment, analysis and on board activity, Shell confirmed that the Kulluk is safe to tow out of Kiliuda Bay. This decision is based on independent review by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) validating that the Kulluk’s structural integrity and stability, post grounding, is sound for towing. Shell has received DNV Class Certification and Flag State approval for the Kulluk. As part of the preparations for the tow, an independent warranty surveyor will approve the towing vessels and equipment arrangements and witness the connection of the tugs to the Kulluk. (To learn more, read the fact sheet.)
The vessel will be towed to Dutch Harbor where a purpose-built dock for the Kulluk’s conical shape is situated. This will allow for heightened safety as the Kulluk is prepared for a dry-tow transit to Asia, where it will undergo repairs. The Kulluk will be towed by three ocean-going tugs to Dutch Harbor and accompanied by the response vessel Nanuq. The transit time is approximately 10 days.
The completion of the damage assessment revealed that the inner hull of the Kulluk was not breached and that all fuel tanks remain intact. The outer hull did receive damage as expected with a vessel being aground during adverse weather. In addition, the Kulluk encountered water damage to its superstructure which resulted in damage to technical equipment and a breach of windows and hatches. Over the past few weeks, all damaged windows and hatches on the Kulluk’s main deck have been secured, and where necessary, temporary steel structures have been put in place to ensure that the vessel is weather tight and prepared for the tow.
Plans continue for the clean-up of the lifeboat debris on Sitkalidak Island. Shell is working with the Old Harbor Native Corporation who will be overseeing the teams working to clear related debris from the area, but due to the extreme challenges of the terrain, this activity will continue for some time so it can be carried out safely.
“The State determined that the command objectives established on day one have been achieved and therefore that it is appropriate to stand down the Unified Command. The State will continue to work with Shell, Coast Guard and stakeholders to ensure that the debris on our Kodiak beaches is recovered,” said State On-scene Coordinator Steve Russell. “We will also be available to those with questions or concerns about this response.”
“Throughout this response, our federal, state, local and tribal partners have remained dedicated to ensuring the safety of Alaska’s maritime communities and environment,” said Mehler.
During the peak of the response, more than 750 dedicated and hard-working individuals from all over the world worked to bring the recovery to a safe conclusion.
Fact sheet
Towing the Kulluk
to Dutch Harbor
The Kulluk will be towed by three ocean-going
tugs at the same time: the Corbin Foss, the
Ocean Wave and the Lauren Foss. The root
cause of the Aiviq’s loss of power is currently
under investigation, so the vessel is not being
used for the tow.
An additional tug will escort the tow to observe
and provide contingencies during operations.
The oil spill response vessel Nanuq will also be
on scene as a precautionary measure.
KODIAK ISLAND
Departure
Kiliuda Bay
Captains Bay
Arrival
Albatross Bank
Aleutian Trench
ALASKA PENINSULA
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
UNALASKA
BERING SEA
corbin foss ocean wave lauren foss
tow configuration
(not to scale)
The conical drilling unit Kulluk will be towed from Kiliuda Bay to Captains Bay
in Dutch Harbor. The tow plan was developed by Crowley Marine Services
and Shell Exploration & Production Company, with oversight from the
U.S. Coast Guard and several other entities. The safety of personnel and
the environment remains our top priority.
Since the Kulluk was safely towed to Kiliuda Bay, it has undergone a thorough
assessment. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has reviewed that data and certified
the Kulluk as stable and fit to tow to Dutch Harbor.
Prior to departure, all systems on the tugs have been inspected and verified
seaworthy. A route has been developed for the vessels. Once underway, the
actual routing can change at the discretion of the onboard tow master for
reasons such as weather or sea state.
Upon review of all relevant and available information, Capt. Paul Mehler III, the
U.S. Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port, will lift his order on the Kulluk and it will be
permitted to leave.
The route is expected to take approximately 10 days. A favorable weather window
for tow is required by Shell before commencing departure operations. Tug masters
will also evaluate pre-departure conditions, as well as monitor the conditions and
forecasts en route. Recognizing the nature of the tow, a marine-monitoring center
will be established by Shell to provide additional support for the tow master
A release from Shell said they were not going to use the Aiviq because the root cause analysis has not been completed.
It seems like they have a better plan this time.
[QUOTE=AHTS Master;99246]It seems like they have a better plan this time.[/QUOTE]
WRONG!..not “a better plan this time” but just “a plan this time” instead!
[QUOTE=coldduck;99241]A release from Shell said they were not going to use the Aiviq because the root cause analysis has not been completed.[/QUOTE]
simply priceless!
I tried to copy and paste the “Towing the Kulluk Fact Sheet” which shows the intended route and the towing make up, but I could not make the cut and paste work.
Maybe this will work??
That is it. http://www.kullukresponse.com/extern...et%20FINAL.pdf
I was surprised that they did not move KULLUK closer to Kodiak City, the airport, the road system and a dock (perhaps Woman’s Bay) at the first opportunity. This would have given them a more secure location with much better and cheaper access. They also could have released most of the tugs standing by. Actually, Seward and Homer would have been even better choices, weather permitting.
If its going to be a long wait for the heavy lift ship, I can see where it would still make sense to move KULLUK to a secure harbor with facilities while they wait, but not all the way back out to Dutch Harbor. I don’t see how that makes any sense. If the heavy lift ship will arrive in a couple weeks, why bother to move now.