Shell oil rig runs aground in Arctic

Michael Marshall, environment reporter

(Image: Jonathan Klingenberg/US Coast Guard)

A drilling rig has run aground on an island off the coast of Alaska. It is the latest setback for Shell, which has been trying to drill for oil in the frigid northern waters.

The Kulluk rig broke free from a tow ship on Monday night and grounded itself on the south-east coast of Sitkalidak Island. The BBC reports that it is carrying "about 143,000 gallons [650,000 litres] of diesel and about 12,000 gallons [45,500 litres] of other oil products": a relatively small amount. So far it appears to be stable and there is no sign of a leak.

The rig is one of two operated by Shell in the Arctic waters, after it was granted permission to undertake exploratory drilling last year.

Shell's project is part of a global dash for the Arctic, as resources like oil are exposed by the retreating ice. However the company has run into many problems, including equipment failures and accidents.

While this latest accident may prove harmless to the environment, it will give environmentalists another stick with which to beat Shell. The growing catalogue of mishaps looks very bad for the company.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/271f8bdc/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A130C0A10Coil0Erig0Eruns0Eaground0Ein0Earctic0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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