Another Day, Another Oil Spill in Alaska

How Many More Oil Spills Before Alaska is Toast?

A Christmas Day oil spill at ConocoPhillips’ Kuparuk oil field in Alaska caused by a ruptured pipeline  was deemed  one of the biggest-ever spills on the North Slope by  the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Ruptured hole in 6 inch flow line. The size of the hole is approximately 3.5 x .25 inches. Date: 12/27-28 . Photo Credit: ADEC

Kuparuk 2U Pad Crude Oil Spill — Jan 5-6, 2008. Photo Credit: ADEC – J. Ebel

About 100,000 gallons of oil-water mix escaped a corroded water-injection pipeline at North America’s second-biggest field,  Kuparuk, which can produce up to 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

A smaller spill also occurred at BP’s Milne Point field elsewhere on the North Slope three days ago.

Other incidents in the area include spill of oil, gas and other fluids in 2008 at the Kuparuk oil field, and a 200,000-gallon crude oil spill at BP’s  Prudhoe Bay oil field in 2006.

North America’s second largest oil field, Kuparuk is owned by a consortium of big oil including  ConocoPhillips (the field operator and majority owner),  BP the second largest shareholder has about 40 percent, while Chevron and Exxon Mobil own minor shares.

Related Links:

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• PERP Response Photo Gallery [Link includes data and photos on Alaska oil spills]

Protesters Buy Up UK Airport Land

Greenpeace Land Purchase: Campaign ruse or environmental activism?

Anti-expansion protesters bought land earmarked for London Heathrow’s third runway

A coalition of environmentalists have bought land [about 5,000 square meters] in Sipson village, said to be right in the middle of the proposed new terminal for London Heathrow’s 3rd runway. The proposed runway and terminal area would force the demolition of hundreds of homes in the area, reports said.

Words “our climate – our land” are written on the plot. Source: Greenpeace. Image may be subject to copyright.

The new owners,  a Greenpeace coalition have pledged not to sell the land to the government or the BAA, should the airport expansion be approved by the planning

Source the BBC/BAA.

Greenpeace said: “Heathrow expansion isn’t only an issue for those of us unfortunate enough to live on the flight path. If expansion goes ahead Heathrow will become the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole country. And the government’s plans to expand airports across the UK will make it impossible for us to meet our commitment to reduce emissions and stop runaway climate change.”

FEWW Comments: We hope this is a genuine move by Greenpeace, and not a political stunt [meant to buy them ‘street cred’ and  endear them in the hearts and minds of the new generation of environmental activists,] which was pulled off after BAA and others had already scuppered plans for the third runway because of worsening global economy and a sizable contraction in tourism and  air travel.

More on this story:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/join-plot-stop-airport-expansion-20090112