SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 3, 2014 Barrow, Alaska

Page 1 of 4

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Operations How do you lock the pressure in wells after you are done using 

them – concrete?

Shell’s wells are exploration wells so after 

we drill a well and get our test results, we 

seal it permanently with concrete.

N/A

Program 

funding

Does Shell have programs for middle school/high school students 

to learn more about science programs?

If Shell is successful, we hope to expand 

our programs that we fund. Right now we 

have limited funding but do fund Ilisagvik

College, Alaska Technical Center, etc.

N/A

OSR How long will it take for OSR vessels to reach the drill site in the 

case of an oil spill from Kotzebue Sound where OSR equipment is 

stored?

We have several assets near the drilling 

site that are immediate response vessels 

and those staged in Kotzebue aren’t needed 

immediately. It will take less than 72 hours 

from Kotzebue to the Burger site.

H

Operations Has Shell seen rogue waves in its operations? No I

Operations Do we think Shell’s vessels can transit safely and withstand rogue 

waves?

We have concluded that our vessels are 

capable of withstanding ocean conditions 

in the Chukchi Sea. For example, our 

vessels safely handled up to 30 feet seas

during 2012 operations.

I

Communicati

on

Shell was encouraged to work with the tribes more often. Thanked the community member for his 

comment during the meeting. A, B, C

Operations When is Shell traveling in the Bering Strait to deliver the drill rig? We will begin transiting through the 

Bering Strait on or after July 1. It all 

depends on the status of the.

N/A

Subsistence An audience member spoke to the importance of using Subsistence 

Advisors throughout the whole vessel transit route.

Shell vessels will not leave Dutch Harbor 

without Subsistence Advisors in place in 

the villages.

E, F
SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 3, 2014 Barrow, Alaska

Page 2 of 4

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Industry in 

General

During AFN, there was a lot of talk of a breakaway barge. The 

industry always says we have a Good Neighbor Policy but as the 

barge was making front page news, it seemed no one wanted to do 

anything about it. Applauded Shell for taking the initiative to make 

sure that they are aligned with the communities concerns. More 

importantly, Shell was encouraged to be the leader as for as 

trustworthiness – to show the people that Shell can build a 

consortium that will look after the communities subsistence 

resources. 

Thanked the audience member during the 

meeting and acknowledged this is an 

important message.

A, B, C

Communicati

on

Can local communities get a copy of the presentation? Yes. N/A

Economic 

development

Industry is going to come and go, the people rely on the ocean, but 

tribes aren’t receiving economic development when they are the 

ones that carry out programs in the community.

Thanked the community member for his 

comments. N/A

Offshore 

drilling

Is the government watching over the safety for offshore drilling to 

protect the north slope and surrounding villages?

Can’t speak for the Coast Guard but Shell 

works closely with them on aspects of our 

plans that they need to approve. The 

USCG has said they plan on increasing 

their efforts in the north slope because of 

increased traffic; BSSE also puts people on 

each of our vessels to ensure we are 

following regulations.

L

Piracy Have we ever experienced pirating? Not in Alaska but we are a global company 

and other Shell ventures have experienced 

it.

N/A

Community 

impacts

How many vessels, air traffic are expected outside of Barrow and 

Wainwright? Concerned about the impact. 

There will be18 at our prospect site. Not a 

lot of activity out of Wainwright but crew 

changes in Barrow. SA program explained.

N/A
SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 3, 2014 Barrow, Alaska

Page 3 of 4

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Community 

impact

If 2015 does permit Shell to operate, and given what has happened 

in the past as far as impact on Barrow’s community, hopes Shell 

works with other industry operators to ensure there is minimal 

impact as far as air transportation, produce, housing, etc.

Shell realized several improvements from 

2012, specifically that we were renting 

apartments and we know this is a larger 

impact because it can increase rents, etc. 

We recognize these potential impacts and 

in 2015 we will be in the new man camps 

and old Top of the World.

N/A

Communicati

on

Where is Shell’s communication center going to be located? It will likely be on the rescue base in 

Barrow and also in Wainwright, Pt. Lay 

and Pt. Hope.

A, B, C

Subsistence Audience member expressed concern about wildlife in Pt. Lay. 

There are a lot of walrus that get stuck onshore and have nowhere

to go.

All of the offshore near Pt. Lay is critical 

habitat for spectacled eiders, so Shell 

cannot have any assets there.

G

Internal Shell 

operations

Are concerned with the flight tickets. Have heard about executives 

providing assistance to some families and not others by allowing 

them to fly on Shell charters for no cost. Expressed concern that it

is not fair to other community members because they can use 

assistance too.

It is Shell’s current policy that no one but 

Shell employees are allowed to travel on 

our charters. N/A

Communicati

on

A community member expressed gratitude for Shell hosting 

meetings twice a year, mentioned is appreciative. Shell was thanked 

for doing so.

Thanked the community member for his 

comment. C

Communicati

on

Does Shell do tours of our ships? Training requirements are really extensive 

because of the safety precautions. So at the 

moment we don’t, but as we expand, Shell 

may consider evolving our programs.

N/A
SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 3, 2014 Barrow, Alaska

Page 4 of 4

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Operations The last time Shell was in Barrow, in 2012, the AC Store ran out of 

milk and cereal. Is Shell going to bring up our own food?

This was the first we had heard of this. The 

KDR’s intent is to be fully self-sufficient

to provide for our crew here to minimize 

the impact on the community. Our intent is 

to bring all of our own food to minimize 

the impact.

N/A

Notes:

*Mitigation Measures are only assigned to applicable comments. 

“Not applicable” (N/A) is used to designate comments that do not require mitigation measures as a course of action. See Mitigation Measures Index definitions according to assigned letter.

Proposed Mitigation Measures

A-Communication Plan for avoiding conflicts with subsistence users.

B-Collaboration and Communication with Whaling Associations

C-Plan of Cooperation (will work to obtain a CAA)

D-Will honor Camden Bay blackout dates for Nuiqsut and Kaktovik whaling.

E-Subsistence Advisors based in Chukchi Sea Villages and Kotzebue

F-Protected Species Observers

G-Robust Marine Mammal Monitoring Protocol

H-OSR support vessels on standby 24/7 near drilling location

I-Real time Ice and Weather Forecasting

J-Crew change by helicopter and collaboration on routes to and from shorebase

K-zero discharge in Camden Bay of the Beaufort Sea: drilling fluids and cuttings after the 26-in casing; gray and treated black waters; bilge and ballast waters

L-enhanced blowout prevention and mitigation measures (i.e., second set of blind shear rams, redundant ROV hot stab panel, prefabricated subsea collection and containment 

system, and relief well plan with designated relief well drilling unit).