The Badami Field is located approximately 35 miles east of Prudhoe Bay and contains recoverable oil reserves estimated at 120 million barrels. Production, which is expected to eventually peak at around 30,000 barrels a day, started over a month ahead of schedule. The oil will be exported via the Trans-Alaska pipeline.

The field was discovered in 1990 by PetroFina and Conoco. BP acquired Conoco's share in 1993 and since then has operated the field with a 70% share. PetroFina holds the remaining 30%. The development started in March 1997.

Badami is the first of a new generation of similarly sized oil fields in Alaska. A few years ago, the exploitation of these fields was considered uneconomical, but thanks to technical advances they can now be developed with greatly reduced costs and excellent levels of ecological care.

PetroFina owns 76 onshore and offshore exploration licences in Alaska, putting it in fifth place among the companies operating in the region. The Group also has shares in the Sandpiper and Liberty offshore Fields whose developments plans are currently being evaluated. Therefore North Alaska is a region rich in opportunities for PetroFina and it intends to continue its expansion there.