Paula Dittrick
Senior Staff Writer
HOUSTON, Aug. 14 -- BP PLC said it will continue production from the Prudhoe Bay Western Operating Area (WOA), following review of WOA pipeline inspection data and after extensive consultations with state and federal regulators.
Current production on Aug. 12 was 150,000 b/d of oil and NGL. Production is expected to increase to 200,000 b/d as Gathering Center 1 ramps up to full production after completion of a planned maintenance shutdown.
The eastern portion of the field was shut down pending replacement of 16 miles of severely corroded oil transit line that resulted in a small spill (OGJ Online, Aug. 7, 2006). Early reports indicated the corrosion was microbial, BP spokesmen said.
Spill recovery
In the Eastern Operating Area (EOA), more than 17 bbl of oil has been recovered from Flow Station 2. The cleanup process continues using water flood techniques to lift remaining amounts of oil from the tundra.
This involves booming off the area surrounding the spill and pumping water from a lake to flood the area. Oil was recovered as it floated on the water.
No other spills to tundra were found, but BP identified another 5 small holes in the oil transit line, which moves oil to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The company completed 2,200 ultrasonic inspections in the WOA since March and will continue 24-hr visual and infrared surveillance of the line.
Ten metal sleeves were installed over sections of EOA pipeline showing any corrosion damage. The company also ordered 16 miles of pipeline to replace existing transit lines at Prudhoe Bay. US mills are expected to deliver the pipe this year.
"BP's West Coast refining and marketing system remains adequately supplied in the short term, and no disruptions of crude or fuel supplies are expected at this time," the company said, adding that it purchased more than 4.5 million bbl of crude on the global market to help cover the shortfall in Prudhoe Bay output. "Additional crude oil and refined products will be acquired as necessary," the company said.
Contact Paula Dittrick at [email protected].
