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 and a range of 10-20 barrels of liquids was provided by BP. 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 4,600 feet long by 500 feet wide, app 50 acres. Winter conditions currently exist on the North Slope with frozen tundra covered by snow. The light mist appears to be on the surface of the snow only.
BP mobilized their Spill Response Team, (SRT) and clean-up cooperative contractor, Alaska Clean Seas, (ACS) A total of 41 SRT members are currently on site with an additional 4 Village Response Team (VRT) members from Barrow. The SRT have been broken into teams to work in different areas of the spill site.
Response efforts have been concentrated to the west of the manifold building and extending beyond the pad edge, as well as the ground underneath the manifold building. Workers have been sweeping and shoveling the contaminated snow into piles both around the manifold building and out on the tundra. The contaminated snow is then being removed via bobcats and snow machines with buckets mounted on sleds. Contaminated snow is being hauled to the Grind & Inject (G&I) facility for disposal. BP anticipates finishing with the clean up in this area by the end of Thursday April 14th.
ADEC has a responder on site for state oversight of response operations
A plan to clean off the buildings, tanks, pipelines and other structures is being designed. Another crew will be brought in to handle this part of the clean up. This is expected to begin in the early part of next week.
BP will continue to remove recoverable oil from the snow-covered tundra, beneath the manifold building, and pad areas. Crews will then proceed to the west picking up oiled snow across the tundra. Snow fencing is being prepared in case a wind event threatens to spread oil beyond current boundaries.
Plans to clean up structures and pipes on the pad are being finalized. Protective measures to keep oil from the structures and pipes from re-contaminating cleaned areas will be utilized. This phase of the clean-up will commence early next week.
The root cause investigation is anticipated to commence within two days to determine the exact cause of the release.
Arctic winter conditions still exist with current conditions as follows; clear skies, temperature -9°F, with winds from the east at 10 MPH resulting in a wind chill of -27°F.
EPA will coordinate oversight through ADEC and RP and keep stakeholder informed of response progress.
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