BP says main Prudhoe transit lines to be replaced early next year

BP says main Prudhoe transit lines to be replaced early next year

New York (Platts)--17Aug2006

BP expects to have the main transit lines replaced in the Prudhoe Bay oil
field by "early next year," according to a securities filing Thursday.

"BP will replace the main oil transit lines (16 miles) in both the
Eastern and Western Operating Areas of Prudhoe Bay and expects to complete
this early next year," the company said.

A leak found in the Prudhoe Bay field prompted operator BP to announce
August 6 it would need to shut the 400,000 b/d field to fix severe pipeline
corrosion. The field's 200,000 b/d eastern operating area (EOA) has been fully
shut, along with some western area output (WOA). A decision to continue
operation of the western side of the field was made August 11.

BP said in its Thursday filing that the EOA was producing 180,000 b/d
when it was shut and that current Prudhoe production remained around 150,000
b/d of oil and natural gas liquids.

"At this time it is uncertain what impact the shutdown of the Eastern
Operating Area of Prudhoe Bay will have on 2006 production," the company said,
citing its earlier guidance that full year production would be between 2.8 and
2.85 million boe/d for subsidiaries and between 1.3 and 1.35 million boe/d for
equity-accounted entities.

--Beth Evans, beth_evans@platts.com

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