BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., the second largest energy company in Alaska behind Phillips Petroleum Corp., said last week it would shake up its Alaska business unit, with among other things, a plan to install a new president in September. Richard Campbell, president since January 1997, will retire Sept. 30.

Incoming president Steve Marshall, who now runs BP’s Scotland office, is expected to lead a restructuring of the business. Under its current structure, six separate business units in Alaska report to BP’s London headquarters. The Alaska president has had oversight of the state’s operations, but has had no direct control or responsibility for oil and gas production. Instead, the Alaska-based president handles government and public relations. The changes in September will make the next president accountable for most of the Alaska operations.

“We’re going to take that complexity out of the Alaska business so there is a chief executive responsible” for business, said BP’s Ronnie Chappell. The changes are expected to clarify responsibilities and improve BP’s strategy to increase its production on the North Slope. Marshall also is expected to be part of the decision-making process for a planned North Slope natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48, which remains on the drawing board.

BP is second to Phillips Petroleum Co. for Alaska production. It runs the Prudhoe Bay field along with the Endicott, Point McIntyre, Milne Point, Badami and Lisburne fields.

©Copyright 2001 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.