ANCHORAGE, Ala., Sept. 22 (UPI) -- BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. will restart part of its idled Prudhoe Bay crude oil production on Alaska's North Slope to test a pipeline.
The eastern part of Prudhoe Bay field, now producing 250,000 barrels per day instead of 450,000 barrels per day, was shut Aug. 10 after the company found a spill caused by corrosion.
BP said Friday three of four flow stations currently on warm standby will be returned to full production so the company can "run cleaning pigs and conduct an in-line inspection of the crude oil transit line using a 'smart pig.'"
A "pig" is a large cylindrical device inserted into a pipeline that moves with the transported commodity, either cleaning or collecting and transmitting data on the pipeline's condition.
The U.S. Transportation Department is allowing BP to run its pigs through a five-mile, 34-inch diameter pipeline segment. Data from the test will help the department and BP decide whether to keep using the pipeline or reroute production through other lines.
