"A shutdown of the Trans Alaska Pipeline, which ships 12 percent of U.S. crude output, entered a third day on Monday, boosting prices and raising pressure on operators including BP to restore shipments.

A leak was discovered at the northern end of the pipeline in Prudhoe Bay early Saturday, near production facilities, forcing oil companies to cut output to 5 percent of their average 630,000 barrels per day. "

Yereth Rosen reports for Reuters with Alejandro Barbajosa January 10, 2011. [2]