NTCL will be busy bringing equipment north on the Mackenzie
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Apr 23/01) - As many as 10 drilling rigs could be searching for oil and gas in the Beaufort-Delta region next year.
The number of rigs being shipped to the area is still unconfirmed but Gordon Norberg, manager of marketing and traffic for Northern Transportation Company Ltd., is in for a busy summer season.
"There is probably four rigs going into the delta and Tuk," he said. "We are pretty sure one or two are going to Tuk."
The lone rig operated last winter by Akita/Equtak is finishing up near Swimming Point in the mid-delta on the north-west side of the Mackenzie River.
The next rigs will be barged from Hay River this summer and should have time to drill at two different sites each during the season.
Each tug boat pushes six barges north to Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk on 10 day trips. Norberg expects 23 trips North this season using several tugs.
NTCL's increase in business last year was about 20 per cent. Norberg expects an increase near 30 per cent on top of last year's heightened business.
"That is directly related to the gas play in the delta," he said.
Aside from rigs Arctic Oil & Gas, contracted by Akita/Equtak to supply camp services, is expecting several large fuel tanks, said president Jim Guthrie.
"And lots of fuel to fill up those tanks," he said and listed off other supplies such as drilling mud, drilling chemicals, lubricants and piping.
An NTCL tug boat will be stationed in Inuvik this summer to do "milk runs" along open waterways to get supplies closer to camps, Norberg said.
