BP in Alaska
BP opened its first office in Alaska in 1959 and is one of the original developers of Prudhoe Bay – which, after 32 years in production is still the largest oil field in North America
BP operates 15 North Slope oil fields (including Prudhoe Bay, Endicott, Northstar and Milne Point), and four North Slope pipelines. The company also owns a significant interest in six other producing fields and in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).
Two key aspects of BP’s business strategy in Alaska are commercializing the large, undeveloped natural gas resource within our 26 percent interest in Prudhoe Bay and unlocking the large undeveloped heavy oil resources within existing North Slope fields through the application of advanced technology.
Two key aspects of BP’s business strategy in Alaska are commercializing the large, undeveloped natural gas resource within our 26 percent interest in Prudhoe Bay and unlocking the large undeveloped heavy oil resources within existing North Slope fields through the application of advanced technology.
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Find out more about our projects in Alaska:
Liberty (BP Operated)
BP Working Interest: 100%Discovered by BP in 1997, Liberty is one of the largest undeveloped light oil fields in the BP Alaska portfolio. Field development is being pursued from land using Ultra Extended Reach Drilling (u-ERD) technology and using existing facilities to process produced fluids. u-ERD wells will allow BP to produce this field, some five miles offshore in the Beaufort Sea, without building a remote offshore island and pipeline infrastructure, thus significantly reducing environmental impacts of this new development.
The reservoir is high quality with wells capable of delivering 15,000 bopd or more initial production. Drilling departures will be on the order of 34,000-44,000 feet and will set world records for drilling upon execution. The Liberty project was sanctioned by BP in April 2008; first production from Liberty is expected in 2011.
Alaska Gas Pipeline - Denali
BP Working Interest: 50%In April 2008, BP joined with ConocoPhillips to start Denali – The Alaska Gas Pipeline. The project will be the largest private sector construction project ever built in North America and will consist of a gas treatment plant on the North Slope and a large diameter pipeline to Alberta (currently being designed to carry 4bcf/d). Should it be required the project will also include an extension to Lower 48 states.
Following a successful open season, a process during which the pipeline company seeks customers to make long-term firm transportation commitments to the project, the companies intend to obtain Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and National Energy Board (NEB) certification and move forward with project construction.
Alaska Heavy Oil
In August 2008, BP successfully tested Cold Heavy Oil Production with sand (CHOPS) technology for the first time in Alaska. During 2008 and 2009, purpose built heavy oil processing equipment was designed, constructed and installed on the North Slope to support a multi-well production test program that will start in 2010 and if successful, continue for several years. The CHOPS well tests are a part of a multi-year technology research and development program to evaluate and assess heavy oil production options in the area.Related links
How BP is using new technologies to increase oil recovery
Find out more about BP in the United States
