BP Repairing Prudhoe Bay Pipeline

BP Exploration Alaska Inc. has completed ultrasonic inspections on 2,500 feet of field transit pipeline in the Eastern Operating Area of the Prudhoe Bay field and about 5,300 feet of pipeline in the Western Operating Area.

There are a total of 7.9 miles of field transit pipelines in Prudhoe's Eastern Operating Area, which is still shut down, and 7.9 miles in the Western Operating Area of the field, which remains in production. Production from the Prudhoe field is continuing at approximately 200,000 barrels per day.

BP also said it has stripped 15,000 feet of insulation material from pipelines in the eastern side to facilitate ultrasound inspections, but insulation removal on the western side is still suspended following the discovery of asbestos in some of the insulation material. The removal of insulation will continue as soon as BP determines the best way to protect workers from the material, the company said in its press release.