The water is not benign. It has a mild acid that eats at the pipes and must be constantly combated. At risk is not only the tundra but also worker safety and the industry's reputation as an environmentally friendly operator in the Arctic. State environmental regulators say the industry appears to be making a good effort to control the problem. But the section of pipe where last week's spill happened had never been inspected for the type of external corrosion that caused the spill, Patterson said.
Regulators also note that corrosion and abrasion problems grow as the fields age.
The companies have been pouring a lot of money into it. I don't know. Observers note that as oil flow falls, the managers are under pressure to spend less money. Like an old car, however, the fields are giving less performance but are demanding more maintenance. The motive to cut costs could run counter to protecting the tundra, said Richard Fineberg, a Fairbanks economist who follows the oil industry.