Methanol Spill Reported at BP Alaska Oil Field

Alaska environmental regulators are investigating a methanol spill at a North Slope oil field operated by oil giant BP.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says up to 4,200 gallons of methanol mixed with production fluid containing an undetermined amount of crude oil spilled onto a gravel pad and tundra pond at the Lisburne Production Facility.

The spill was immediately discovered early Saturday morning by BP subcontractor workers.

DEC responder John Ebel says the spill occurred during a maintenance shutdown as crews conducted a valve test on a pressurized section of pipe that crosses underground beneath a road. He says the pipe failed, not the valves.

He says no workers or wildlife were injured.

BP spokesman Steve Rinehart says cleanup has begun. He says the spill covers a small area.