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Pipeline
Operations
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)
transports crude oil from Alaska’s North Slope, across 800 miles of
tundra, rugged mountains and rivers to Valdez, North America’s
northernmost ice-free port. Engineers designed the pipeline to endure
and protect Alaska’s harsh environment as it traverses three mountain
ranges, three major earthquake faults and more than 500 rivers and
streams. The pipeline corridor includes more than 550 crossing areas for
caribou, moose and other wildlife.
TAPS carries approximately 17 percent of the nation’s domestic oil
production and has transported more than 15 billion barrels of crude
oil.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company was incorporated on August 14, 1970 to
design, build, operate and maintain the pipeline, pump stations and
Valdez Marine Terminal. Alyeska also helps assure safe tanker operations
in Prince William Sound with its Ship Escort/Response Vessel System.
Alyeska personnel and contractors continually monitor and operate TAPS
to ensure that oil flows safely, efficiently and in an environmentally
sound manner. Basic information
- Maximum daily throughput 2.136
million bbl., avg.
(With 11 pump stations operating). Rates exceeding 1,440,000 bbl./day assume drag
reduction agent (DRA) injection.
- Maximum daily throughput
2000 (with 7 pump stations operating)
.99 million bbl., avg. Rates exceeding 1,000,000 bbl./day assume DRA
injection
- Fuel required for all operations (fuel oil
equivalent) 210,000 gal/day (also see fuel requirements under Pump Stations, and
Marine Terminal).
- Pressure
- Design, maximum 1,180 psi
- Operating, maximum 1,180 psi
- Pump Station facilities in original design
12 pump stations with 4 pumps each.
- Pump Stations operating,
Nov. 1, 1998 7: PS 1, 3,
4, 5, 7, 9, 12. PS 5 is a relief station only. PS 11 is a
security site. PS 8 placed in standby June 30, 1996. PS 10
placed in standby July 1, 1996. PS 2 placed in standby July 1,
1997. PS 6 placed in standby August 8, 1997.
Control system
- Basic function Provides instantaneous
monitoring, control of all significant aspects of operation, and pipeline leak detection.
Operators in the Operations Control Center (OCC) at the Marine Terminal monitor the system
24 hours a day and control oil movement through the pipeline and loading of tankers.
- Computer type Data general
MV/20000 and various PCs
- Location Computer hardware and
controllers' consoles are located in the Operations Control Center at the Marine Terminal.
- Points monitored
- Pipeline
3,047 Input points
352 Control points
- Marine Terminal
1,074 Input points
461 Control points
- Remote data acquisition units
- Pipeline 14 (each Pump Station, plus
the North Pole Metering facility and Petro Star Refinery)
- Marine Terminal 24
- Metering 14
- Software programming functions
- Data acquisition and control
- Alarm and data processing and display
- Hydraulic modeling
- Leak detection
- Historical archiving and reporting
- Seismic evaluation
Major mainline pipe repairs
- 1977 MP 489.12 approx. 20
ft. south of north block valve at PS 8; damage to 30° elbow and pipe from injection of
super cooled nitrogen ahead of oil front during oil-in. Replaced with new elbow and two
6-ft. pups. Pipe reburied.
- Jul 8 MP 489.24 pump
building at PS 8 destroyed in an explosion and fire; the pipeline was undamaged. The pump
building was replaced, and recommissioned Mar. 7, 1978.
- September MP 388.00
north of Lost Creek; two bullet indentations. Covered with 48-in. dia., 3-ft. welded split
sleeve.
1978 MP 457.53 Steele
Creek; 1-in. dia. hole (sabotage). Covered with 48-in. dia., 22-1/2 in. bolted split
sleeve; subsequently covered with welded sleeve.
1979 MP 166.43 north side
Atigun Pass; hairline crack caused by buckle. Covered with 56-in. dia., 6-ft. welded split
sleeve; 19 steel supports installed. Pipe reburied.
June MP 734.16 1 mi.
north of PS 12; hairline crack caused by buckle in pipe. Covered with 56-in. dia., 6.1-ft.
welded split sleeve; 7 steel supports installed. Pipe reburied.
September MP 157.62 to MP
157.65 instrument pig ("Super Pig") lodged in line at check valve 29.
Stopple and bypass installed, valve bonnet lifted, pig removed. Pipe reburied.
October MP 166.41 north
side Atigun Pass; buckled pipe. Covered with 56-in. dia., 6-ft. welded split sleeve. Pipe
reburied.
1980 MP 449.96
indentation, possibly from bullet. Covered with 48-in. dia., 18-in. welded split sleeve.
May MP 159.70
construction damage from backhoe during monitor rod installation. Covered with 48-in.
dia., 3.6-ft. welded split sleeve. Pipe reburied.
June MP 416.00 approx.
2 mi. south of PS 7; pipe settlement. Approx. 430-ft. excavation; 8 steel supports
installed. Pipe not reburied.
August MP 752.00 flash
flood, 900 ft. of overburden washed out; no damage. Pipe reburied.
November MP 720.00 pipe
settlement. Approx. 200-ft. excavation; pipe lifted, concrete slurry added beneath pipe.
Pipe reburied.
1982 MP 168.40 south side
Atigun Pass; pipe settlement. Approx. 300-ft. excavation; concrete slurry added beneath
pipe. Pipe reburied.
August MP 166.03 north
side Atigun Pass; pipe buckle. Covered with 56-in. dia., 6.5-ft. welded split sleeve. Pipe
reburied.
1983 MP 730.29 pipe
settlement. Approx. 102-ft. excavation; 9 concrete river weights removed, concrete slurry
added beneath pipe. Pipe reburied.
April MP 200.24
Dietrich River channel; pipe buckle. River channel redirected temporarily; approx. 125-ft.
excavation; 56-in. dia., 6-ft. welded split sleeve installed; 5 specially designed steel
supports installed. Pipe reburied.
October MP 45.97 pipe
settlement. Approx. 200-ft. excavation; concrete slurry added beneath pipe. Pipe reburied.
1984 removal of stuck scraper
pig at CV4 and relocation of pig trap from PS 5 to PS4.
November removal of stuck pig
at PS 10.
1985 MP 200 temporary bypass
tie-in, pipe settlement.
April MP 200 final tie-in of
48-inch permanent reroute. (404.7 ft. added to total pipeline length in MP 200 reroute,
Apr 22, 1985) Reroute due to pipe settlement.
1986 Steele Creek; permanent
welded sleeve installed over bolted split sleeve.
Nov 18 replaced damaged
"Tee" at PS 10; "Tee" damaged by stuck scraper
pig.
1987 replaced 234 ft. of
buckled pipe, MP 166.41 166.43, Atigun Pass.
Aug 25 mechanical damage
covered with 3 ft. welded sleeve.
1989 total of 30 sleeves
installed for corrosion repairs.
1990 total of 86 sleeves
installed for corrosion repairs.
- Nov 23 dent covered by 6 ft.
welded sleeve.
- Dec 3 mechanical damage
covered with bolted clamp, later covered with a split tee (part of Atigun Floodplain Pipe
Replacement Project).
1991 total 18 sleeves
installed for corrosion repairs.
- Mar 8 mechanical damage covered by 4 ft. welded
sleeve, MP 779.47.
- Apr 6 mechanical damage covered by 4 ft. welded
sleeve, MP 756.80.
- September Atigun Floodplain
Pipe Replacement Project completed, MP157-165.5. Permanent reroute of 8.5 miles of main
line pipe. Replacement due to corrosion.
1993 Jun 6 mechanical
damage covered by 3 ft. welded sleeve, MP775.
1994
- Jul 22 CV9 Bypass spool
replacement and drain line repair.
- Jul 20 CV86
bypass and drain line repair.
- Sep 30 CV74
drain line repair.
1995
- Mar 15
Replace actuator on CV55.
- Jun 8 Replace
actuator on CV89.
- Jul 14 RGV
system leak repair.
- Sep 15 Extended
Chena Hot Springs Road casing.
1996
- Apr 25 Replace
bypass line on CV92.
1997
- Feb 8 Install
"armadillo" sleeve at Wilbur Creek. Repair due to corrosion.
- Jun 20 Mechanical
damage covered by 2.5 ft. welded sleeve, MP 775.75.
- Oct 9 Corrosion
repair covered by 4.8 ft. welded sleeve, MP 799.68.
1998
- Sep 25 Replaced
RGV 80 and and repaired CV122.
- Mar 19 Constructed
and started Tanker Vapor Control System at Valdez Marine Terminal.
1999
- Apr 26 Total
of 2 sleeves installed for corrosion repair at MP 652.
- Sep 11 Replaced
RGV 60.
2000
- May 26 Completed
reset and repair of tripped anchors at MP 170, a result of the
collapse of vapor pocket after pipeline restart.
- June 1 mechanical
damage cover by two 2 ft. welded sleeves, MP 710.76.
- Sep 16
Replaced CKV 74 and M-2 valve at PS 9.
2001
- Sep
22
Pipeline shutdown for mainline valve maintenance
and integrity test, and performance evaluation of two 48-inch
mainline remote gate valves.
- Oct 4
MP 400, bullet hole repaired with hydraulic
clamp. Clamp later replace with Thor plug.
2002
-
Jul 25
Pipeline shutdown to replace
RGV 39.
- Nov
MP 588, repaired or replaced
damaged shoes and VSM crossbeams from 7.9 earthquake on November 3.
Shutdowns
- 1977 equipment malfunction
40 min.
- Aug 15 PS 9 sump overflow
110 hrs., 11 min.
- Sep 20 equipment malfunction
59 min.
- Oct 9 producer shutdown
4 hrs., 14 min.
1978 equipment malfunction
1 hr.
Jan 10 equipment malfunction
4 hrs.
Jan 16 equipment malfunction
4 hrs., 22 min.
Jan 17 equipment malfunction
3 hrs., 41 min.
Feb 15 sabotage, Steele Creek
21 hrs., 31 min.
May 6 equipment malfunction
7 hrs., 18 min.
May 30 equipment malfunction
2 hrs., 22 min.
Sep 4 equipment malfunction
3 hrs.
Dec 17 equipment malfunction
2 hrs., 8 min.
1979 Atigun Pass leak 53
hrs., 37 min.
1980 PS 10 crude tank valve
leak 3 hrs., 37 min.
Oct 17 scheduled maintenance
5 hrs., 16 min.
1981 check valve 23 leak
15 hrs., 38 min.
Feb 8 equipment malfunction
3 hrs., 54 min.
1982 equipment malfunction
2 hrs., 48 min.
Dec 22 equipment malfunction
12 hrs.
1983 0
hrs. (no shutdowns)
1984 Scraper pig stuck at check
valve 4 18 hrs./PS 4 Trap relocation, 57 hrs., 40 min.
Jun 17 equipment malfunction
1 hr., 7 min.
Oct 5 producer maintenance
5 hrs.
1985 MP 200 bypass tie in
66 hrs.
Apr 22 MP 200 final reroute
tie-in of 48-in. pipe 20 hrs., 40 min. (404.7 ft. added to total pipeline length in
MP 200 reroute, Apr. 22, 1985).
Jun 26 equipment malfunction
42 min.
October removed stuck pig at
PS 10.
Nov 9 PS 1 explosion and fire
10 hrs., 15 min.
1986 removed scraper pig at PS
10 31 hrs., 50 min.
Nov 18 replaced
"Tee" at PS 10 16 hrs., 54 min.
1987 Atigun Pass pipe
replacement 24 hrs., 6 min.
1988 0 hrs. (no shutdowns)
1989 total power failure; PS 1-
hr.,
31 min.; PS 1 block line - 32 min.
Oct 20 repair corroded pipe at
MP 144.2-5 hr., 16 min.
1990 PS 3, broken nipple valve
320 - 4 hr., 10 min.
Jun 12 PS 1, valve D2 pipe
replacement - 12 hr., 39 min.
Jun 12 PS 9 isolated station,
valve M2 leak- 1 hr., 34 min.
Nov 20
Corrosion repair, welding at MP 157.87 - 3hr., 17 min.
Dec 15 high inventory and
power failure at Valdez Terminal - 1 hr., 42 min.
1991 0 hrs. (no shutdowns)
1992 uncommanded closure of RGV
73, electric short - 1 hr., 49 min.
Oct 7 segment 11 RGV intransit
indication - 35 min.
Oct 16 segment 11 RGV
intransit indication - 7 min.
1993 PS3 isolated gas building,
broken fitting - 9 min.
Jun 22 RGV 98A false intransit
indication, MLR2 project work - 38 min.
Oct 29 loss of communication
with segment 12 RGV's - 20 min.
1994
- Jan 24
Isolate station at PS10 caused by leaking nipple on 26" yard check valve
1 hr., 26 min.
- Feb 14
Isolate gas building at PS1, faulty gas detector 24 Min.
- Apr 15 Replace
002 valve at Valdez and troubleshoot segement 4 RGVs 24 hrs., 28 min.
- Apr 18 Work
on PS4 Systronics Master Panel 7 hrs., 57 min.
- Jun 8
Communications failure with RGV73, failed power converter 1 hr.
- Jun 12
Communications failure with RGV69, battery failure 36 min.
- Oct 15
Communications failure with RGV40 2 hrs., 20 min.
1995
- Feb 22 PS9
shutdown by high pressure shutdown switch 19 min.
- Jun 16
Communications failure to Segment 4 RGVs, RGVs 31-35 closed 2 hrs., 25 min.
- Jul 10 RGV
118 intransitt indication 1 hr.,41 min.
- Jul 10
Communications failure to Segment 10, RGV 95 29 min.
- Jul 11
Communications failure with RGV 95 1 hr., 30 min.
- Sep 11
Scheduled maintenance 15 hrs., 45 min.
- Sep 12
Completion of scheduled PS2 maintenance 4 hrs., 51 min.
- Sep 18
Communications failure with RGV 37 1 hr., 42 min.
- Nov 7 Fire
alarm in PS10 pump house building 12 min.
1996
- Feb 17
Communications failure with RGV 113 2 hrs., 7 min.
- May 6
Scheduled maintenance 21 hrs., 45 min.
- May 7 PS8
valve seal repair, repair leaking PS4 M2 valve body drain valve
7 hrs., 17 min.
- Jul 12
Scheduled maintenance, preparations for PS8 and PS10 standby 10 hrs., 25
min.
- Aug 1
Scheduled maintenance as part of ramping down PS8 and PS10 8hrs., 40 min.
- Aug 6
scheduled maintenance as a part of ramping down PS8 and PS10 11 hrs., 2 min.
1997
- Jan 12
Communications failure with RGV 124 3 hrs., 24 min.
- Jan 13
Communications failure at RGV 62, 65, 7 67 13 min.
- Jun 1 False
RGV indication at RGV 32-34, Segment 4 2 hrs., 9 min.
- Jun 26
Communications failure with RGVs in Segment 12 5 hrs., 44 min.
- Jul 1
Communications failure with RGV 31-33 1 hr., 45 min.
- Aug 1
Scheduled maintenance for PS2 & PS6 ramp-down preparation 17 hrs., 49
min.
- Aug 8 Placed
PS6 in standby 19 hrs., 29 min.
- Aug 12 False
transit indication, PS11, M-1 valve 25 min.
- Sep 19
false tranisit indication, RGV 103 14 min.
- Nov 8
Communications failure, RGV 45 1 hr., 17 min.
1998
- May 18 PS1
in-rush vapor test and vibration test of VMT incoming relief piping 5 hrs.,
9 min.
- Aug 5 Segment
10 RGVs in invalid status 24 min.
- Aug 14
Communications failure, Segment 10 5 hrs., 4min.
- Sep 25 Valve
maintenance, replaced RGV 80 and repaired CKV 122 28 hrs., 40 min.
- Nov 15
Communications failure to Segment 4 RGVs, relay failure 3 hrs., 23 min.
1999
- Feb 15
Communications failure at RGV 60 15 mins.
- Feb 17
Communications failure at RGV 105 1 hr., 25 mins.
- Feb 23
Communications failure at RGV 32, battery failure 2 hrs., 15 mins.
- Mar 20
Communications failure at RGV 80 1 hr., 07 mins.
- Mar 25
Communications failure at RGV 102 1 hr., 57 mins.
- Apr 3
Communications failure at RGV 91 26 mins.
- Apr 11
Communications failure at RGV 69 56 mins.
- Jun 8
Communications failure with all Segment 4 RGVs 1 hr., 13 mins.
- Jun 17
Communications failure at RGV 91 34 mins.
- Jul 5
Communications failure at RGV 43 34 mins.
- Jul 5 Maintenance
at Tea Lake, repeater loss of communication to segment 4 RGVs 1 hr., 52
mins.
- Sep 11 Valve
maintenance, replaced RGV 60, tested 46 mainline valves and completed 165 other
maintenance tasks 25 hrs., 49 mins.
- Oct 16
Communications failure at RGV 67 1 hr., 10 mins.
- Nov 9
Communications failure at RGV 53 26 mins.
- Nov 13
Planned maintenance amd autologic testing 8 hrs., 6 mins.
- Dec 8 False
fire alarm is PS1 booster pump building 2 hrs., 34 mins.
- Dec 23
Communications failure with RGVs 62 & 67 36 mins.
- Dec 25 Communications failure
at RGV 121 4 hrs., 16 mins.
2000
communications failure at RGV 42 1hr., 24 mins.
Apr 17
PS 4 unintended stop flow / close RGV initiated due to invalid
state transmitted from RGV 35A while troubleshooting power failure
1hr., 26 mins.
Apr 22
Loss of visibility of PS 11M-1
43 mins.
Aug 28
communications failure at RGV 121A, battery failure
1hr., 39 mins.
Sept. 16
Planned line-wide maintenance shutdown
29hrs., 39 mins.
Oct 7
Planned line-wide shutdown for valve leak tests
7 hrs., 31 mins.
2001
-
Feb 26
PS 5 false fire alarm - 1 hr.,
24 mins.
- Apr 3
Communications failure at RGV
32 - 2 hrs., 59 mins.
- Apr 18
Work on PS 4 Systronics Master Panel - 6
hrs., 38 mins.
- Jun 25
Automatic controls activated during planned
failover of Scada Host Computer - 1 hr., 10 mins.
- Aug 16
Communications failure at RGV 60 - 1 hr.,
30 mins.
- Aug 26
Communications failure at RGV 123 - 58 mins.
-
Sep 5
Communications failure at RGV 124 - 2 hrs.,
59 mins.
- Sep
22
Planned maintenance shutdown - 21 hrs., 4
mins.
- Oct 4
—
Bullet puncture at MP 400 - 60 hrs., 30
mins.
- Oct 18
PS 4 false fire alarm indicator - 1 hr., 57
mins.
-
Oct 28
Backbone
communication system disruption - 4 hrs., 5 mins.
- Nov 1
Communications
failure at RGV 44 - 2 hrs., 48 mins.
- Dec 20
Communications
failure at RGV 44 - 2 hrs., 30 mins.
2002
-
Jan 5
Segment 10 to 11 RGVs closed due to Copper Valley
Electric Association power failure - 2 hrs., 6 mins.
-
May 9
Communications failure at RGV
108 - 1 hr., 10 mins.
-
Jun 11
Communications
failure at RGV 97 - 2 hrs.
- Jul 27
Planned maintenance shutdown - 29 hours.,
57 mins.
-
Sep 16
Seismic system
testing - 35 mins.
-
Oct 12
Planned maintenance
at PS 4 - 3 hrs., 20 mins.
-
Nov 3
7.9 earthquake at MP 588 - 66 hrs., 33 mins.
-
Nov 27
Communications
failure in segment 4 - 1 hr., 49 mins.
2003
-
Mar. 21 2 hr PS 4 unintended stop flow/close RGVs 31-35
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July 18 5 hr, 56 min Planned pipeline shutdown to set
full closed limit switches on RGVs 118,119, 121, 121A.
-
July 19 4 hr, 48 min Planned pipeline shutdown to set
full closed limit switches on RGVs 115, 116, 117 and PS 11 BL2.
-
Aug. 8 4 hr, 1 min Planned pipeline shutdown to set full
closed limit switches on RGVs 26, 35, and PS 4 BL 1 and 2.
-
Aug. 12 3 hr, 52 min Planned maintenance shutdown.
-
Sept. 10 4 hr, 5 min Planned pipeline shutdown for full
closed torque/limit switch verification/calibration for RGVs 57, 72, 88
and 101.
-
Sept. 12 3 hr, 56 min Scheduled pipeline shutdown for
full closed torque/limit switch verification/calibration for RGV’s 35,
35A, 69, 73 and 91.
-
Nov. 17 1 hr, 39 min Pipeline shutdown due to
communication failure at segment 6.
2004
-
Jan. 24 5 hr, 51 min
Communication failure at valve 972.
-
Apr. 28 3 hr Planned maintenance
shutdown.
-
May 22 41 min Testing of
Earthquake Monitoring System.
-
July 8 1 hr, 25 min Communication
failure at RGV in segment 9 and
10.
-
July 10-11 31 hr, 36 min Planned
maintenance shutdown.
-
Aug. 16-17 0 hr Planned
maintenance shutdown.
-
Aug. 30 3 hr, 9 min Scheduled
mini pipeline shutdown for
planned maintenance.
-
Dec. 26 3 hr, 31 min
Communication failure at RGV 45.
2005
-
June 19 35 hr, 42 min Planned
maintenance shutdown.
-
July 8 1 hr, 17 min Controlled
pipeline shutdown to investigate CV
60B.
-
July 23 32 hr, 32 min Planned
maintenance shutdown.
-
Sept. 18 4 hr, 51 min Scheduled mini
pipeline shutdown for planned
maintenance.
-
Nov. 3 3 hr, 20 min Communication
failure to all segment 12 RGVs.
2006
-
TAPS shutdown on July 22-23 for
approximately 36 hours, starting at 6
a.m. and ending around 6 p.m. the following day. The work scope this
shutdown was to: for PS 10 Install a 48-inch CV on the mainline.
-
Klutina River Replace CV 109.
-
Atigun Pass Leak through testing RGV
31.
-
Various locations Perform additional
maintenance tasks.
-
Oct. 10 9 hr, 45 min Communication
failure at RGVs 117,118, 119, 121 and 121A, due to flooding between PS
12 & the VMT.
-
Oct. 21 3 hr, 30 min Test SIPPS
controls of RGVs, south of PS 3 to north of PS 9.
-
Oct. 26 3 hr, 30 min Test SIPPS
control of RGVs, south of PS 9 to PS 10.
-
Nov. 4 3 hr, 30 min Test SIPPS
control of RGVs, south of PS 11 to Valdez.
-
Nov. 7 3 hr, 38 min Systronics power
supply problem in MTU at PS 4.
-
Nov. 10 2 hr, 10 min Systronics MTU
power supply problem.
-
Nov. 15, 16 14 hr, 25 min Shutdown
due to high inventory in Valdez.
-
Nov. 17 6 hr, 8 min Shutdown due to
high inventory in Valdez and problems at PS 4.
-
Nov. 18 - 22 6 hr, 30 min Shutdown to
build daily ave. inventory at PS 1.
Leaks
Record of system crude
oil leaks and spills of 100 bbl. or more on land or water*
|
Location |
bbl. |
Cause |
|
|
|
|
|
PS
8 |
300 |
Explosion |
|
CV7 |
1,800 |
Construction
damage |
| 1978
|
|
|
|
|
Steele
Creek |
16,000 |
Sabotage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atigun
Pass |
1,500 |
Pipe
settlement, hairline crack |
|
MP
734 |
4,000 |
Pipe
settlement, hairline crack |
| 1980
|
|
|
|
|
Terminal/V746 |
3,200 |
Leaking
valve, east tank farm |
|
PS
10 |
238 |
Tank
valve |
| 1981
|
|
|
|
|
CV
23 |
1,500 |
Drain
connection failure |
| 1989
|
|
|
|
|
Thompson Pass |
1,700 |
Hull
crack |
|
Exxon Valdez |
260,000 |
Vessel
ran aground |
| 1996 |
|
|
|
|
April
20 |
CV
92 |
880 |
Loose
thread fitting on buried piping |
|
2001 |
|
|
|
|
Oct
4 |
MP 400 |
6,800 |
Bullet Hole |
|
Last updated April 18, 2008
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