The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has approved BP Exploration Alaska Inc.'s request to reopen and test a feeder line to the TransAlaska Pipeline System that was closed since August when a leak was discovered. That leak prompted BP to close the eastern part of the Prudhoe Bay field, reducing the flow of oil from a key domestic production area.
The Sept. 22 approval by DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will let BP pump oil into its Eastern, low-pressure line so it can run a cleaning mechanism, called a "pig," to remove solids that have accumulated in the line. Then the company can send a inspection device, called a "smart pig" through the line to analyze its interior.