New Alaska pipeline expansion is large

Although a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline for North Slope reserves is stalled by financing obstacles, Alaska will have a substantial level of pipeline construction in 1983 in the form of several smaller projects. Large production enhancement programs are nearing a peak of activity in both the Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk oil fields in the Arctic while Enstar Natural Gas Co. is planning a 100-mile transmission line to tap new supplies and new markets in the Cook Inlet area. Enstar expects to start work on the line late this year. With the operators of the unitized Prudhoe Bay field in the final year of preparations for a massive waterflood program and well into development of low pressure production systems to enhance productivity of the nation's largest oil field, work there will be at a high level in 1983. For both ARCO Alaska Inc. which operates the eastern part of the field, and Sohio Alaska Petroleum Co. as developer of the western part, 1983 to 1984 will be one of the busiest periods in the field's history.