On April 12th, 2005 BP discovered and reported a release of natural gas and an undetermined amount of condensate from a damaged flowline at drill site 14 in their Greater Prudhoe Bay crude oil production field on the North Slope of Alaska. An updated volume of 1.4 million standard cubic feet of gas was provided by BP the amount of condensate is still being calculated. The source of the release is a gas line that transports pressurized natural gas to the drill site for injection into the reservoir to aid in crude oil recovery. Initial reports indicate a weld failure caused the release. The release resulted in gas condensate / crude oil being misted onto the well pad, the manifold building, various piping associated with the production pad and onto the surrounding frozen, snow covered tundra. The material lightly misted the surface of a large area around the pad; the impact area size is estimated to be app 1 mile in length and app 300 ft. wide. Winter conditions currently exist on the North Slope with frozen tundra covered by snow. Daytime temperatures are -2F with 9 mph winds from the east. The light mist appears to be on the surface of the snow only.
Upon receiving notification from the NRC ( report # 755497) EPA contacted the RP to obtain additional information, notified DOI, and obtained the services of a Historic Properties Specialist through EPA's START contractor. Preliminary findings indicate no known cultural resources in the spill area.
THe Alaska Department of Environmantal Conservation, (ADEC) has spill response personnel on the North Slope and are conducting an assessment of the current situation on site.
BP has activated its spill response team and is delineating the impacted area with both a ground survey and an aerial overflight. Cleanup of the pad and roadways has commenced allowing responders to establish a staging are with support equipment.
Anticipated clean-up activates will involve removal of contaminated snow surface that is misted with condensate droplets and cleaning of well pad surfaces and structures
BP is mobilizing additional spill responders through Alaska Clean Seas, (ACS) the North Slope clean-up co-operative and continues spill delineation activities.26 spill responders are arriving on the North Slope by 6PM tonight with additional personnel from Barrow tomorrow.
ADEC has a responder on site for state oversight of response operations.
EPA will coordinate oversight through ADEC and RP and keep stakeholder informed of response progress.
Although the total volume of the condensate release is believed to be relatively small the impact area is sizable and will require a large workforce to conduct timely cleanup activities.
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