Drilling in Alaska has started

14-June-07

During the last few years the development in the Arctic zone has been concentrated on the Arctic Ocean and in the Russian area. However, the American oil companies, mainly Shell, have also been very active in Alaska.  In July, Shell is going to start drilling with  17 vessels in the Sivulliq field off Prudhoe Bay in the Beaufort Sea. 

Frontier Drilling USA Inc from Houston is taking care of the drilling operations with its two vessels Kulluk and Frontier Discoverer. Aker Arctic has participated in the initial design modification project for both vessels.  The modification of  the Frontier Discoverer  was carried out at a yard in Singapore where a new ice-protected and ice-resistant hull shape designed by Aker Arctic was implemented in the ship’s structure. 

To assist the drilling vessels Shell has transported to Alaska three icebreakers built by Aker Yards, among them the  Fennica, next year they will be joined by the icebreakers Nordica and Kapitan Dranitsyn from Murmansk.  The  Fennica left for its new summer job right after the 1st of May  and called in Houston on its way to load the new hydraulic propeller plants for the Kulluk.

Picture: the Frontier Discoverer on its way from the Pan United yard in Singapore to the Arctic waters in Alaska.

For more information, please contact:
Mikko Niini, Managing Director Aker Arctic Technology,
tel. +358 400 322 747 or +358 10 670 2499