Criticism flies over BP’s pipeline maintenance

Even though it markets itself as environmentally conscious, oil giant BP had a troubled record in its Alaskan operations even before late Sunday’s announcement that it is shutting down Prudhoe Bay production to replace corroded, leaking pipeline.

The move will take away about 8% of U.S. domestic oil production for weeks or months.

Environmentalists say that BP appears to have let its infrastructure deteriorate in what is an aging oil field, instead of investing in upgrades, such as new pipe.

BP acknowledged that the pipeline had last been tested in 1992 by a corrosion-sensing device called a “smart pig” that runs inside the line. “With hindsight, that’s clearly a gap in our program,” said Bill Hedges, team leader of BP’s corrosion management and chemicals program, at a news conference Monday.

USA Today