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. Woollam says the corrosion program is for the most part successful. The company is injecting more chemical inhibitors, and Prudhoe pipeline corrosion rates have fallen. Overall, there is a decreased number of corrosion-related repairs.