Alaska's governor upset with BP move

JUNEAU, Alaska, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said he was "extremely disappointed" with a decision by British energy company BP to cut its workforce in the state.

BP announced layoffs as the result of the April sale of some of its assets in the North Slope to Houston-based energy company Hilcorp.

"I'm extremely disappointed in this action," Parnell said in a statement Monday. "When I spoke with BP Alaska President Janet Weiss today, she assured me that BP remains on track for the new rigs planned for the North Slope and for new investment promised to Alaskans."

BP said the assets sold to Hilcorp represent about 19,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day in production, or less than 15 percent of BP's net production on the North Slope. The British company said the sale has no impact on its operations at the Prudhoe Bay oil field, where BP said it plans to deploy two new drilling rigs by 2016.

Parnell's office said he was confident those laid off by BP would be able to find work in the state energy sector.

As of 2012, BP said it had about 2,000 employees in Alaska.