Alaska regulators push tighter rules after BP leaks

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – Alaska regulators on Wednesday defended their oversight of BP Plc (BP.L), but advocated tighter rules after leaks forced the oil giant to shut down 12 oil wells this week.

The wells shutdown in Alaska’s North Slope region is the latest in a series of troubles for BP, still reeling from an estimated 200,000-gallon (909,200-liter) Prudhoe Bay spill that went undetected for days before being discovered in March.

“Every one of our regulations and orders are enforced strictly on every operator in the state,” said Cathy Foerster, an engineer who sits on the three-member Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. “If BP were violating our regulations, we’d be fining them.”

However, state officials are working to tighten rules. The commission plans to rewrite oil field safety-valve regulations in order to address recent changes in field operations and improvements in measuring technology.

Reuters