Oil

Shell Delays Arctic Oil Drilling Until 2013

John Ryan — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:01:39 +0000

Problems in Puget Sound have led Shell Oil to cancel its plans for drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean this year. KUOW's John Ryan reports from the Bellingham waterfront.

The Arctic Challenger is Shell's oil-spill containment barge. It's here behind me at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. It's supposed to be in place in the Arctic to help mop up any oil spills. It's been under construction here at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal for months.

This weekend, a tugboat pulled it out into Puget Sound so its "containment dome" could be tested in 160 feet of water.

Oil-Spill Barge Causes Small Spills Of Its Own In Bellingham

John Ryan — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:38:52 +0000

More problems for the oil-spill containment barge being built on the Bellingham waterfront. Coast Guard officials say Shell Oil's Arctic Challenger has caused several small spills of its own in the past few weeks. KUOW's John Ryan reports.

Coast Guard: Much Work Remains On Arctic Oil-Spill Barge

John Ryan — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:41:37 +0000

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday that hundreds of tasks remain in the construction of an overdue oil-spill barge. As KUOW's John Ryan reports, Arctic drilling is on hold until the construction project in Bellingham wraps up.

Delays In Bellingham Curtail Arctic Oil Drilling

John Ryan — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:52:49 +0000

Shell Oil is scaling back its plans for drilling in the Arctic Ocean this year. Icy conditions in the far North and construction problems in Bellingham have delayed the company's efforts. KUOW's John Ryan reports from Seattle.

Natural Gas Industry Eyes Mineral Rights In Idaho Wildlife Reserve

Aaron Kunz — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:22:07 +0000

The natural gas industry is interested in mineral rights in a Northwest wildlife area. Aaron Kunz explains.

This month, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission authorized the state to auction off the mineral rights for nearly 400 acres in the Payette River Wildlife Management Area. The auction could take place in late July.

Suzanne Budge is with the Idaho Petroleum Council. She explains why the company, Snake River Oil and Gas, is interested in the mineral rights.

New Report Details Tanker Risk In Puget Sound

Ashley Ahearn — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:37:57 +0000

Twelve years ago, BP built a second dock at its Cherry Point refinery north of Bellingham, WA. But they didn’t do an assessment of what that added dock capacity would mean for tanker traffic in Washington waters. Now the Army Corps of Engineers has released a long-awaited study that does just that. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Washington Not Ready For Implications Of B.C. Pipeline Expansion

Ashley Ahearn — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:22:32 +0000

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Canadian pipeline operators are considering expanding the line that brings oil from the Alberta Oil Sands to western British Columbia. Environmentalists and others say that raises the potential for oil spills in Northwest waters and, it involves a different type of oil.

Right now the Trans Mountain pipeline moves 300,000 barrels of oil per day to an export terminal near Vancouver, B.C. If the Canadian government approves the expansion that amount could almost triple. More oil in the pipeline means more oil loaded onto large tanker ships. Those ships will eventually head out the Strait of Juan De Fuca to the Pacific.

Quake Lessons From Japan: Pay Attention To Energy Resiliency

Tom Banse — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:53:58 +0000

BELLINGHAM -- Sunday marks the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The tsunami destruction and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown garner the most attention. There was another cause of suffering in Japan's quake zone. In some places, you couldn't get gasoline for weeks to fuel cars and generators. The Pacific Northwest is prone to the same kind of earthquake. Correspondent Tom Banse reports emergency planners say this region's fuel supply lines are vulnerable.

Dealing With Derelict Vessels

Ashley Ahearn — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:54:32 +0000

COLUMBIA RIVER, Wash. -- There are hundreds of abandoned or sunken ships in Northwest waters. These vessels can threaten navigation, human safety and the environment. But state agencies in the region are only equipped to handle part of the problem. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Davy Crockett Oil Spill and Cleanup Was Preventable

Bonnie Stewart — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:02:01 +0000

COUMBIA RIVER, Wash. -- The U.S. Coast Guard and its contractors spent 10 months and $22 million last year removing the Davy Crockett from the Columbia River. The barge had broken apart during a botched salvage job, spilling oil and PCBs into the river.

Workers removed more than 38,000 gallons of oil from the ship. The cleanup was declared a success. But an EarthFix investigation has found that government officials could have prevented the oil spill and the need for a multi-million dollar cleanup.

Bonnie Stewart has the story.