Kuparuk recertified for Green Star

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The Kuparuk oilfield facilities, operated by Phillips Alaska Inc., have been recertified for the Arctic Green Star award earned by ARCO Alaska Inc. in 1998, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance said March 22.

Arctic Green Star, a voluntary program administered by The Alliance, is a collaborative effort of the Prudhoe Bay Environmental Alliance, Green Star Inc., the Oil and Gas Pollution Prevention Committee, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Center for the Environment.

To earn or recertify an Arctic Green Star award, a business must adopt a Green Star policy, create a Green Star team, assess waste reduction, develop employee participation incentives and implement at least six measurement programs and procedures which reduce waste, energy use and pollution.

Members of the Arctic Green Star chapter’s standard committee visited Kuparuk March 21 and determined that Phillips Alaska’s Kuparuk facilities and personnel continue to meet required standards.

Several accomplishments were noted:

From 1999 to 2000, Kuparuk increased the amount of materials being recycled by 150 percent. Kuparuk built six metal waste bins so cardboard could be recycled at drilling rig locations around the field and purchased a metal banding chopper that processes metal banding for recycling with other metal scraps.

Kuparuk collected and shipped used pallets and other wooden materials to two organizations which burn the wood for heat.

Kuparuk replaced disposable oil filters with reusable filters which have screens that trap impurities. The impurities are inspected to pinpoint worn parts, which produced a savings of $45,000 in just a few months by more quickly identifying repair needs than was possible through a traditional lube oil monitoring program.

The oil filter program’s success inspired a similar evaluation for air filters. A washable air filter was found, saving about $4,100 annually at Kuparuk.