Hilcorp has Trading Bay slop oil release

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation reported Dec. 16 that Hilcorp Alaska discovered a slop oil release at its Trading Bay Production Facility on Dec. 15.

The product spilled, slop oil, consists of 80% crude oil and 20% water.

“Slop oil is defined as crude oil emulsified with water and solids rendering it a waste stream that cannot be sold down the pipeline,” DEC said.

The release was 190 barrels from a leak in an underground line in the slop oil processing system.

During a transfer of slop oil from Tank 4 to the slop oil tank, TK-9500, the operator noticed that the tank level in the TK-9500 tank was not increasing proportionately to the decrease in the level in Tank 4.

After visual inspection the operator observed oil under and around the edges of the secondary containment liner. DEC said upon discovering the leak the operator immediately isolated tank TK-9500 and the leaking line.

Nine Hilcorp personnel are on site recovering the slop oil, DEC said, with 15 barrels recovered Dec. 15. Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response has been activated to assist and is mobilizing personnel and equipment to the site, DEC said.

Hilcorp and CISPRI personnel were expected to fly out to the facility the afternoon of Dec. 16 to assist the nine operators already on site.

“Initial recovery will be conducted by cutting the liner at the low spots to enable suctioning out product above and below the liner,” DEC said, with response, sampling and waste disposal to be coordinated with Hilcorp, DEC and the U.S. Coast Guard.

- Petroleum News