Trans-Alaska pipeline, shut down by bullet hole Oct. 4, back in service Oct. 7
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Alaska North Slope production, at approximately 900,000 barrels per day Oct. 3, dropped to 70,000 bpd; was ramping back up Oct. 8 at 500,000 bpd
Kristen Nelson PNA Editor-in-Chief
Some 6,800 barrels, 285,600 gallons, of Alaska North Slope hit the ground about 45 miles north of Fairbanks between the time a bullet punctured the trans-Alaska oil pipeline at about 3 p.m. Oct. 4 and 3 a.m. Oct. 6 when a hydraulic clamp sealed off the spill.
An Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. surveillance helicopter spotted oil on the ground and suspects in the area and ANS production, which had been at about 900,000 barrels a day, was cut in half and then to 5 percent as North Slope producers shut in wells until the line could be repaired.
Alyeska said its Operations Control Center, responding to notification of oil on the ground and a drop in pressure, immediately began shutting down the north end of the line. Oil was allowed to flow south through the line in an effort to reduce oil pressure.
Although the line was shut in, oil continued to be released due to the static pressure. Pressure inside the pipeline was approximately 525 pounds per square inch at the time of the incident. Crews included fire fighters Alyeska mobilized response crews, heavy machinery and a special land spill strike team to the scene to clean up the oil and hired a contractor from Houston, Texas, to provide expert petroleum fire fighters to aid in the response. A crane was mobilized to the scene to install a hydraulic clamp on the hole.
More than 100 Alyeska and contract responders, working 12 hour shifts, were on the scene by Oct. 5, working to contain and recover spilled oil, with additional resources en route.
The temporary hydraulic clamp installed at 3 a.m. Oct. 6 stemmed the flow of oil. The temporary clamp was removed to allow for permanent repair the evening of Oct. 6. Alyeska said a Thread O Ring plug was welded onto the pipeline to permanently repair the damage. The company said this procedure has been used in different repair operations several times on the pipeline and is proven technology.
The pipeline was restarted at 3:24 a.m. Oct. 7 and was fully operational at 7:35 a.m.
Alyeska said North Slope producers were released to full production at 7 a.m.
The Williams and Petro Star refineries in North Pole were returned to normal supply at 9 a.m. Oct. 7.
The pipeline shutdown did not impact loading operations at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
Alyeska said that environmental cleanup efforts continue at the site. As of Oct. 8, an estimated 108,6000 gallons of the 285,600 gallons spilled had been recovered.
A suspect in the shooting was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alaska State Troopers.
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