Article: Alaska Judge Rules BP Oil Companys Water Permits Invalid.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Oct. 13--A state judge ruled late Wednesday that at least two oil company permits to withdraw water from North Slope reservoirs are invalid.

The ruling casts doubt over the state's water-permitting process in the North Slope oil fields and is another bruise for BP's troubled Northstar oil development.

Fresh water is an essential but scarce commodity during the winter construction season on the North Slope. Oil companies spray water on the tundra to build ice roads to remote drilling and development sites. The roads can handle heavy loads and melt away in spring with little impact.

Judge Sig Murphy ruled that water permits allowing oil companies ...

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