SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 6, 2014 Pt. Lay, Alaska

Page 1 of 3

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Operations Why is Atqasuk an alternate airfield for helicopters rather than 

Wainwright or Pt. Lay?

Because Wainwright and Pt. Lay are 

coastal villages subject to fog and Atqasuk 

is inland with less chance of fog.

J

Local hire What is Shell’s percentage of local hire for OSR efforts? The majority of OSR teams discussed 

during the presentation are local hire. N/A

Operations There are two boat trailers that arrived in Pt. Lay – are these Shells? We are unsure at this time but will look 

into it. N/A

OSR Does Shell have any contingency plans in case of an oil spill? Yes. We have OSR vessels staged both 

near Burger and in the Kotzebue Sound 

area. Explained verbally in further detail.

H

Aircraft 

operations

Is aircraft usage weather permitting? Everything is weather permitting. I

Weather 

data

Does Shell have a website for SIWAC data? Yes, Shell has a website for the SIWAC 

data. This website is password-protected. 

We also share all of our weather forecasts 

with NOAA and they have improved their 

forecasts based off of Shell’s data.

I

Operations What is Shell’s biggest obstacle to operate? Shell faces a number of challenges as 

we plan for our 2015 operations. One 

challenge pertains to the sheer number 

of permits we are required to obtain 

from the regulatory agencies. While we 

believe we will be successful, the threat 

of litigation remains and it could affect 

our ability to operate in 2015

N/A

OSR How often is Shell going to be doing OSR exercises? Prior to the season, we do extensive 

training in Valdez with all of our crews. N/A
SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 6, 2014 Pt. Lay, Alaska

Page 2 of 3

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Fleet What number diesel oil is Shell going to be using on vessels? Shell has committed to using only ultra 

low sulfur diesel fuel. N/A

Operations Do we have a safe harbor for Shell vessels? For refuge, the vessels can withstand up to 

30 feet seas. If it gets too rough, we would 

transit back to Dutch. Shell can also 

relocate vessels based on weather forecasts 

and data.

I

Terrorism The employees/crew on the vessels, where are they coming from?

Is there concern for terrorism?

The majority of our fleet are American. 

However, we have two Finnish vessels and 

they will have Finnish crews. There is an 

extensive vetting process so there is no 

concern for terrorism.

N/A

Fleet How many vessels does Shell have total – I counted 15? All total there are about 28 vessels. N/A

Fleet What is the speed on these vessels? Usually 10 knots, some are capable of 

13/15 knots. We use the 10 knots as a safe 

pace.

N/A

OSR What villages would be affected by a potential oil spill in the 

Kotzebue area?

There are no drilling operations in 

Kotzebue Sound. N/A

OSR Are people being trained now in OSR in both areas – Northwest 

Arctic and North slope areas?

Each year, there are 2 OSR training 

sessions in each Chukchi coastal village on 

the North Slope and 1 in each

coastal/Kotzebue Sound village in the 

Northwest Arctic.

N/A

OSR If Shell opens up in 2015 will the Northwest Arctic areas be aware 

and ready to respond to OSR?

Yes. H
SHELL EXPLORATION COMMENT ANALYSIS

Plan of Cooperation Meeting – November 6, 2014 Pt. Lay, Alaska

Page 3 of 3

Issues Comments Shell Response Mitigation 

Measures

Social 

investment

Comment was made in regards to Shell donating to the Native 

Village of Pt. Lay.

Shell makes efforts to donate to 

communities where operations may have 

an impact. We do so through our initiative, 

which we refer to as social investment. 

Anyone who is interested in applying for a 

donation may do so on Shell Alaska’s 

website. 

N/A

OSR Who coordinates the 6 people in Pt. Lay trained in OSR? We contract with Arctic Slope Energy 

Service. They will be advertising soon. 

The Pt. Lay liaison can also be a good 

point of contact for information.

N/A

OSR When people receive OSR training do they receive field and 

offshore training experience?

Yes, they receive field and those who will 

be on vessels also receive offshore

training.

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).