Kuparuk infrastructure upgrades approved

Alan Bailey

Petroleum News

Alaska’s Division of Oil and Gas has approved applications by ConocoPhillips for a couple of upgrades to the surface infrastructure in the Kuparuk River field.

The first of the upgrades involves the relocation of a methanol storage tank and a pump module from drill sites DS-3J and DS-1H to DS-1D. The modules will be used for continuous methanol injection in the field. Installation of the modules on DS-1D will involve the placement of eight 18-inch diameter vertical support members, to support the modules on the pad.

The second upgrade involves the installation of a new 8-inch diameter seawater pipeline, connecting the pigging module on drill site 1B to an existing 12-inch water pipeline. Laying of the 1,400-foot pipeline will involve constructing two underground road crossings near the northeastern end of the Kuparuk Base Camp and Central Production Facility No. 1.

- ALAN BAILEY