MARCH 2, 2015
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
A Hilcorp Alaska LLC pipeline leaked an unknown amount of
crude oil, water and other fluids over the weekend, according to reports.
Hilcorp Alaska is a unit of Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Co.
The spill occurred around 7:50 a.m. on Feb. 28, and an
estimated 3,906 gallons of liquids were recovered by midday March 1, the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation reported.
The leak came from an estimated 1/4-inch diameter hole in a
10-inch production line at Milne Point Tract 14 in northern Alaska. The cause
of the production line rupture is under investigation, but the remaining
product in the affected segment has been removed and production flow into the
segment has been stopped.
Preliminary assessments show "approximately 38,800
square feet of gravel pad and tundra have been heavily to lightly misted by
fluids," the ADEC reports. "There have been no reports of impacted
wildlife. A survey is being conducted to determine if any historic or cultural
sites have been affected by this event."
Severe blizzard conditions have impaired the clean-up
assessment and response. Anchorage NBC affiliate KTUU-TV reported late March 1
that there isn't a solid estimate for how much spilled from the line in total.
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Nearly 4,000 gallons of crude oil, water and other fluids
have been recovered from a North Slope pipeline leak at a Hilcorp Alaska
production site, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation.
DEC officials say the leak, from a 10-inch production line serving Tract 14 at Milne Point, was first spotted just before 7:50 a.m. Saturday. An after-hours call was placed to DEC at 9 a.m. that morning, and responders were notified shortly afterward.
“The cause of the production line rupture is under investigation, but crude escaped from an estimated 1/4-inch diameter hole in the 10-inch production line,” DEC officials wrote. “An unknown amount of produced fluids including crude oil and produced water were released to the pad and tundra.”
Hilcorp officials began a response by mobilizing about a dozen responders on-site, as well as requesting aid from the Kuparuk Spill Response Team and the Alaska Clean Seas response team. An estimated 38,000 square feet in the area of the leak were “heavily to lightly misted by fluids.”
“An estimated 3,906 gallons (93 barrels) of liquids have been recovered by vacuum truck to date,” DEC officials wrote. “Responders have sprayed water onto the affected area to form an ice cap over the contamination keeping it in place; thereby preventing further migration during an upcoming weather event.”
According to DEC, wells at Tract 14 were shut in, with no oil flowing through the line and valves on either side of the affected pipe section closed.
“A wooden plug was inserted in the hole and that portion of the production line was wrapped to prevent future release,” DEC officials wrote. “Containment supplies were placed under the release point to reduce further environmental impact. Remaining product in (the) affected pipe segment has been removed.”
Severe blizzard conditions overnight Saturday halted response efforts, with crews planning to return Sunday. A section of bypass pipe has been readied to replace the damaged section of pipe, which will be removed and inspected when weather permits.
A unified command has been set up for the incident including Hilcorp, DEC, the Environmental Protection Agency and the North Slope Borough.
On-scene DEC coordinator Tom DeRuyter said crews were only able to reach the site again at 6 p.m. Sunday, and still don’t have a solid estimate for how much liquid spilled from the line.
DEC officials say the leak, from a 10-inch production line serving Tract 14 at Milne Point, was first spotted just before 7:50 a.m. Saturday. An after-hours call was placed to DEC at 9 a.m. that morning, and responders were notified shortly afterward.
“The cause of the production line rupture is under investigation, but crude escaped from an estimated 1/4-inch diameter hole in the 10-inch production line,” DEC officials wrote. “An unknown amount of produced fluids including crude oil and produced water were released to the pad and tundra.”
Hilcorp officials began a response by mobilizing about a dozen responders on-site, as well as requesting aid from the Kuparuk Spill Response Team and the Alaska Clean Seas response team. An estimated 38,000 square feet in the area of the leak were “heavily to lightly misted by fluids.”
“An estimated 3,906 gallons (93 barrels) of liquids have been recovered by vacuum truck to date,” DEC officials wrote. “Responders have sprayed water onto the affected area to form an ice cap over the contamination keeping it in place; thereby preventing further migration during an upcoming weather event.”
According to DEC, wells at Tract 14 were shut in, with no oil flowing through the line and valves on either side of the affected pipe section closed.
“A wooden plug was inserted in the hole and that portion of the production line was wrapped to prevent future release,” DEC officials wrote. “Containment supplies were placed under the release point to reduce further environmental impact. Remaining product in (the) affected pipe segment has been removed.”
Severe blizzard conditions overnight Saturday halted response efforts, with crews planning to return Sunday. A section of bypass pipe has been readied to replace the damaged section of pipe, which will be removed and inspected when weather permits.
A unified command has been set up for the incident including Hilcorp, DEC, the Environmental Protection Agency and the North Slope Borough.
On-scene DEC coordinator Tom DeRuyter said crews were only able to reach the site again at 6 p.m. Sunday, and still don’t have a solid estimate for how much liquid spilled from the line.