By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 30 -- BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. said on Aug. 29 that Prudhoe Bay field production was restored to more than 200,000 b/d after a temporary shut-down of Gathering Center 2 to make mechanical repairs to a gas compressor.
The compressor was taken down for maintenance starting on Aug. 23, and during that time, Prudhoe Bay production was reduced to 110,000 b/d (OGJ Online, Aug. 21, 2006).
The field normally produces 400,000 b/d but much of its Eastern Operating Area (EOA) remains shut down pending replacement of 16 miles of severely corroded oil transit line that resulted in a small spill (OGJ, Aug. 14, 2006, p. 26).
"While this mechanical issue was unrelated to the Prudhoe Bay oil transit line issue, our commitment to resolving the problem remains the same," BP said.
Meanwhile, BP has completed ultrasonic inspections of 2,500 ft of pipe in EOA and 5,300 ft of pipe in the Western Operating Area.
"To date, all of our inspections have found no integrity issues beyond those identified in the initial inline inspection," BP said on Aug. 29.
