What happened

Workers discovered an uncontrolled natural-gas release from BP Exploration Alaska's Flow Station 1, Drill Site 2, Well 3 at about 07:30 on 14 April, followed by crude-oil mist spraying from the well house. Two leak points were identified on the same well assembly: an upper leak that emitted gas and crude mist, and a lower leak that continued releasing gas and a minor amount of crude after the upper point was stopped. The well had risen approximately three to four feet, damaging a pressure gauge and complicating initial attempts to regain control, although regulators did not publish a final cause for the failure. Infrared overflight showed the crude plume remained inside the gravel-pad reserve pit. The crude spray had stopped by 16 April, and responders killed the remaining gas release with salt water early on 17 April before installing a mechanical plug. No injuries or wildlife impacts were reported, the released volume remained undetermined, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System continued operating normally.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.