Meggert said the processed water, when it came out of the pipe, was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We're hoping it didn't penetrate too far,'' he said. The general strategy for cleaning saltwater from the tundra is to flush the area with fresh water, he said. The cleanup is expected to last for a few weeks, he said. The processed water contains salt because the oil producers use sea water to boost oil recovery.
Sea water is injected into the earth to build reservoir pressure.
Meggert said there are also plans to scoop up the relatively small amount of oil that has spilled. That oil has been stripped of most of its powerful components during processing, he said. It's all hazardous substances,'' he said. The Kuparuk field, the nation's second largest, produces about 230,000 barrels of oil a day. BP is the other major leaseholder at the unit.