Regulatory inspections for pollution prevention include
several components of the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Regional Program.
All trips to the offshore facilities for inspections or other visits
include inspections for pollution prevention as part of the facility
visit.
State Platforms
In FY 2005, the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region participated in an
unannounced emergency response drill at the ConocoPhillips Tyonek Platform
located in State waters in Cook Inlet. The drill required ConocoPhillips
to activate their Nikiski-based incident management team and to deploy
equipment and personnel required to respond to a simulated loss of well
control on the platform. ConocoPhillips successfully demonstrated their
capability to mobilize and deploy personnel and equipment to the spill
site and activate the incident management team.
Northstar Pipeline
The Northstar pipelines are the first buried subsea pipelines in the
Alaska Arctic. Although the MMS does not regulate the Northstar pipelines,
the MMS is tracking the pipeline performance. BP has been running “smart”
pigs for geometry and for the detection of corrosion and other mechanical
damage through the pipeline since installation.
