The Alpine Satellite Development Plan (ASDP) 2011 Water Quality Monitoring Report
presents the result of the field sampling conducted in August 2011 for ConocoPhillips Alaska,
Inc. (CPAI). Annual monitoring of lakes M9313, L9323, and L9324 is required by North Slope
Borough Ordinance Serial No. 75-6-46, Stipulation IV.2.4.3(h). At the request of CPAI, these
three lakes have been monitored annually by Michael Baker Jr. Inc. (Baker) since 2007. An
overview of the three study lakes relative to Alpine facilities is presented in Figure 1.1.
During the winter of 1998/1999, CPAI initiated construction of the Alpine Facility, Colville
Delta (CD) 1 and CD2, in the Colville River Delta (CRD). Alpine operations expanded with
the implementation of the ASDP during the 2004/2005 winter season. Construction included
placement of gravel facilities for two new satellite drill sites, CD3 and CD4. The CD3 pad
development included an airstrip and pad/airstrip access road, apron, and taxiway. The CD4
pad development included an access road running parallel to the existing Alpine Sales
Pipeline, connecting to the CD2 access road. Lake M9313 is near CD3, and lakes L9323 and
L9324 are located north and south of CD4, respectively.
The 2011 water quality monitoring program included in-situ field sampling of the lakes for
temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, conductivity/specific conductance, and
turbidity. Additional water samples were collected at the lakes for laboratory analysis of
dissolved hydrocarbons: diesel range organics (DRO), residual range organics (RRO) and
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) metals. The laboratory analyses for the
lakes were chosen to identify and monitor the persistence of trace concentrations originally
observed in 2007.
Samples were collected for laboratory analysis from the adjacent tundra areas if a film was
observed when accessing the lakes. A film was observed on the tundra adjacent to lakes
M9313 and L9324. No film was observed when accessing Lake L9323. Samples were collected
to determine if hydrocarbons were present or if the film was the result of natural biological
activity. The samples were analyzed for DRO and RRO using standard methods (AK 102 and
AK 103) and silica gel extraction procedures.
