Deadhorse Aviation Center: providing new infrastructure for North Coast activity.

• Author: Cottrell, Paula
• Position: Special section: BUILDING ALASKA

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At a time when some feel the future of North Slope operations is declining, one company believes in the future of Alaska's oil and gas industry and the need for infrastructure to support its future growth. That is why in June, Deadhorse Aviation Center LLC will be opening the Deadhorse Aviation Center (DAC), a 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility unlike any seen before on the North Slope.

What once started as a vision for Sherron Perry, founding owner of Fairweather LLC, is turning into a reality as final completions on the DAC structure are under way. Originally designed in 2006 to support offshore activities by Shell Off Co. and smaller ventures in the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Sea, the design concept has since grown into that of the largest facility of its kind on the North Slope. "Offshore Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) exploration is an important part of Alaska's future and the DAC will provide an integral part of the framework necessary for successful offshore programs and operations," Perry says.

Jointly owned by Fairweather LLC, Offshore Support Services LLC and Kaktovik Inupiat Corp., the DAC is a multimodal aviation facility complete with a large hanger, logistics and incident command centers, a full-service medical clinic, airport terminal, cargo handling capabilities, personnel accommodations, offices, conference rooms and dining facilities.

"The Deadhorse Aviation Center goes a long way to providing the infrastructure needed to respond to any incident on the North Slope or the Outer Continental Shelf and will be a crucial component when an Alaska gas line is finally under way," Perry says.

SECURE ACCESS

Conveniently located to the north of runway 5, the DAC has secure access to the Deadhorse taxiway and runway. With perfect proximal access to roads, airport and the ocean, it is an ideal solution for oil companies and their suppliers to successfully manage their North Slope onshore and offshore exploration and production operations in the safest, most cost-effective manner possible, according to Perry.

The final building concept was redesigned over the last few years to accommodate a wide range of users from the OCS exploration projects to independent exploratory wells. "This structure is perfect for some of the smaller oil companies actively engaging in the marketplace that lack the framework necessary to expand their operations," Perry says.

Careful consideration was given to anticipating and...