BP moves to close Alaska well leaking gas

BP Plc is working to secure an ongoing natural gas leak in a well on Alaska’s North Slope that also sprayed crude oil for three days before that release was capped. The plan is to close the well, state officials said.

The crude spray onto the well pad was discovered Friday morning, and capped on Sunday. A second leak at the well was emitting gas at a reduced rate, according to a statement Sunday by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Well pressure is being monitored and excess pressure is being bled off to keep it within a safe range.

The company is putting together a plan to plug the gas leak, the statement said. Once that occurs, “well-killing operations can take place,” according to the DEC. The well is part of the Prudhoe Bay field, which in March produced an average 315,395 barrels a day, according to data from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

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