City Focus
By Sam Fleming
BELIEVE it or not, BP was until recently considered one of the better performers when it came to oil pipeline safety. The British oil major’s inspection and repair standards were seen by some as an example of best practice in an industry with a messy history.
Monday’s news that miles of Alaskan pipeline will have to be replaced because of ‘severe corrosion’ has tarnished that reputation. Coming only months after a spill from the same Prudhoe Bay field, chief executive Lord Browne’s efforts to turn his firm into an environmentally friendly pin-up have been holed below the waterline.