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As co-owner of Denali, the Alaska Gas Pipeline, BP is touting the natural gas pipeline project as its investment in the future.

The company believes the North Slope gas main line will open other opportunities for gas use in Alaska and elsewhere.

"Denali will provide Alaskan and Canadian consumers the opportunity to access gas at key locations along the pipeline route," said Phil Cochrane, external affairs spokesman. "Denali plans a minimum of five off-take points in Alaska."

While BP's primary focus in Alaska continues to be on the North Slope, the international integrated oil company also operates the gas-to-liquids facility in Nikiski.

The GTL plant has 13 BP employees and another 12 to 15 contractor employees supporting the operation on a daily basis. In addition to the GTL plant workers, 253 BP employees list their home address as being on the Kenai Peninsula.

The GTL plant processes 3 million cubic feet of gas per day, producing 300 barrels per day of synthetic crude.

When asked how long the plant will continue to operate, Cochrane said the company has no plans to close the plant.

"However, the GTL is a test facility, and the test program is reviewed annually," he said.

BP has no plans to build a commercial GTL facility in Alaska, but BP is exploring a number of business opportunities for commercializing the gas-to-liquids technology developed at Nikiski.

In addition to launching the Denali - the Alaska Gas Pipeline project, BP's North Slope oil production exceeded expectations and the company's drilling program delivered world-class results, including the first six-branch -- hexalateral -- well drilled in Alaska, according to Cochrane.

He also listed "significant improvements in workplace safety and the operational integrity" of BP's facilities among major accomplishments in 2008.

BP also began development of the offshore Liberty oil field with a three-dimensional seismic survey to guide the world's longest wells.

Although BP has no plans for drilling exploratory gas wells in Alaska this year, the company is looking to drill or invest in about 90 wells on the North Slope.

In December, the company announced a capital budget of $1.2 billion in Alaska, up from the $900 million BP spent in 2008.

With its primary business focus in Alaska continuing to be on the North Slope, BP has not announced any plans for capital projects in the Cook Inlet Basin for 2009.

Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek@peninsulaclarion.com.