Oiled ring at FS-2 flare pit removed

Cleanup work at the flare containment pits at Flow Station 2 was completed July 28.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Spill Prevention and Response said July 29 that 27 spill responders worked two 12-hour shifts to remove the oiled bathtub ring around the water edge of the gravel-bermed flare pits after a release was discovered July 21.

A BP Exploration (Alaska) employee discovered the release of produced fluids and crude oil in the primary flare containment of the Flow Station 2 facility in the Prudhoe Bay unit the afternoon of July 21. DEC said BP estimated that 200 gallons of produced fluids were released into three of the four freshwater filled flare containments at FS-2, including some 140 gallons of produced water and 60 gallons of crude oil.

DEC said the three flare pits had a bathtub ring of black oil varying from two to 14 inches, with sheen observed in the water.

Spill responders used a combination of mechanical and manual recovery tactics to contain and remove the oiled sediments from the fare pits. Some 120 cubic yards of visually stained gravel was removed from the area.

DEC said BP completed the corrosion inspection of the six-inch liquid flare line which was taken out of service and functionally bypassed into other flare lines.

DEC said BP had completed its technical reviews and was in the process of returning FS-2 to production on July 29.

—Petroleum News