Probe into BP Alaska leak
By Sheila McNulty in Houston
Published: June 23 2008 02:53 | Last updated: June 23 2008 02:53
US regulators are investigating a leak at Prudhoe Bay as BP was replacing corroded pipes almost two years after their discovery forced the temporary closure of North Americas largest oilfield.
BP agreed to replace 22 miles of corroded pipelines in August 2006 after the largest-ever spill at the field which led the US department of transportation to order high-tech tests that found widespread corrosion.
After granting several extensions, the department set the year end as the final deadline for BP to replace the corroded pipelines. This past week, BP suffered a leak during hydro-tests on three miles of newly installed pipe, said Chuck Hamel, an advocate for BP workers in Alaska. Regulators are investigating possible faulty welds for the leak.
That BP continues to face engineering difficulties at Prudhoe Bay is not only embarrassing to Tony Hayward, the chief executive, but comes as big oil companies are trying to convince politicians the US can safely open environmentally protected areas to development.
John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, has called for the lifting of a federal moratorium on offshore drilling in US waters to reduce dependence on foreign sources. The plan, also endorsed by George W. Bush, the US president, has been criticised by Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate.
BPs setbacks at Prudhoe Bay come as environmentalists are seeking to keep protected areas in Alaska and Florida off limits to oil and gas companies. Royal Dutch Shell delayed drilling in offshore Alaska for another year owing to a court challenge by environmentalists who fear risks to whales and other marine animals.
Mr Hamel wrote on Saturday to Thomas Barrett, deputy secretary of the department, reporting the failure in testing the new pipeline and said he was informed they are investigating.
BP said the leak was of fresh water, with a minute concentration of corrosion inhibitor, at a pressure higher than the pipeline will see in service.
The new pipeline is being tested to the highest standards before going into service, it said, adding it did not affect BPs schedule to have a new pipeline in service by the end of the year.
EDITORS CHOICE
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Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
