Cook Inlet’s Abandoned Oil Platforms: A Costly Legacy for Alaska
The Spurr oil platform in Cook Inlet, Alaska, has been sitting idle since 1992, abandoned by its owner Marathon Oil due to economic reasons. Despite assurances from Marathon and later from Hilcorp, the current owner, the platform remains untouched and unused, rusting away in the inlet. The story of the Spurr platform is not unique, as 15 out of 17 platforms in Cook Inlet now belong to Hilcorp, with six not producing oil and gas at all.
State regulators have been hesitant to push for the removal of these platforms, citing the potential financial burden on oil companies and the desire to focus on increasing natural gas production in the area. However, watchdogs warn that delaying the removal process poses environmental and financial risks, especially in the event of a major oil spill or industrial accident.
Hilcorp has proposed alternative uses for the dormant platforms, such as tidal and wind power generation, but experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of such projects. The state has given Hilcorp approval to leave the platforms in place for now, but a decision on their future use must be made within the next five years.
As discussions continue about the fate of Cook Inlet’s abandoned oil platforms, the key question remains: what is the state’s obligation to ensure the safe removal and cleanup of this aging infrastructure? Watchdogs and experts are calling for transparency and accountability in managing the legacy of these platforms to protect Alaska’s environment and finances in the long run.
This collaborative investigation between Alaska Public Media and APM Reports sheds light on the challenges and complexities surrounding the decommissioning of offshore oil platforms in Cook Inlet.
