Strategic Reconfiguration: Planning for the future

If you had to build the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) today, what changes, if any, would you propose? This is the essence of strategic reconfiguration at Alyeska. It is an effort to build the future of the pipeline and the Valdez Marine Terminal by applying today’s technology to a system constructed in the mid 1970s.

A major element of strategic reconfiguration is a plan that calls for electrification of pump stations and installation of new control systems for the pipeline.

“Conceptual engineering for pipeline electrification and automation was completed at the end of last year. Now, we’re in the final phase of study for pipeline reconfiguration, which is preliminary engineering,” said John Barrett, Program Manager for the pipeline reconfiguration project. “At the end of this year, we will have optimized the results of conceptual engineering and determined the project economics.”

Mitigating the cost of transporting Alaska North Slope crude oil and adjusting to throughput projections are two clear reasons to upgrade, but technological advancements in recent years make the case for upgrading even more compelling. Over the years, new methods of engineering have been developed, improving the quality of machinery and the manner in which businesses operate. These are also reasons why Alyeska plans to reconfigure pipeline operations. A similar strategy assessment will be completed on the Valdez Marine Terminal at the end of the year.

“The pipeline system that exists today was designed for two million barrels per day. We are currently running at half that rate,” Barrett said. “As we propose to renew and upgrade the equipment, we need to make the pipeline fit for purpose. Current production is about one million barrels per day. Future production could be higher or lower. It’s very important to be able to handle varying flow rates effectively.

“One of the essential conditions that we have set is to deliver all of the oil available at Pump Station 1,” he said.

The new electric pump stations will be modular and scalable, able to adjust to various throughput levels. Additional electric power sources and pumping modules, compatible with the proposed stations, can be more easily placed at those sites to accommodate future flow rate changes.

There are also environmental benefits to be gained through the upgrades.

“We’re not going to sacrifice safety or operational integrity,” Barrett said. “In fact, as we make these changes we hope to make improvements in those areas.”

“For example, we’re currently running 42 turbines on the line and this will be reduced to approximately 10 or less (after reconfiguration). The new turbines will be more efficient and air emissions will be reduced significantly,” he said.

The proposed upgrades will also reap environmental advantages because of less need for equipment that now supports camps, buildings and other utilities. Much of that equipment is driven by liquid fuel. As equipment is eliminated, the potential for equipment spills decreases.

Logistics have long been a challenge for the state when competing in the world’s oil market. Reducing the cost of transporting the oil will increase marketability and encourage exploration on the North Slope.

The strategic reconfiguration plan proposed by Alyeska is consistent with other pipeline systems being built and operated today.

“Companies all over the world already use this technology to do the same thing that we plan to do with TAPS,” Barrett said. “This is not cutting edge technology or something that will require a lot of research. This has already been done elsewhere. We are upgrading using proven technology to make TAPS more efficient for the next 30 years.”