Alyeska has diesel spill

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation said Dec. 19 that Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. has had a 761 gallon diesel spill at Pump Station 6 after a fuel line ruptured on one of the generators which supplies power to the pump station.

The spill occurred Dec. 17, with an initial report of 80 gallons of diesel spilled. That volume was updated Dec. 18 to 761 gallons, DEC said.

Of the 761 gallons spilled, 417 gallons are estimated to have been contained in the generator module.

The diesel inside the generator was recovered with sorbent pads and a vacuum truck. DEC said the initial low report of diesel spilled is believed to have been due to the foreman at Pump Station 6 not knowing how long the line had been leaking, and the fact that it was dark at the time and those at the pump station couldn’t see the full magnitude and size of the spill.

Three hundred square feet of gravel pad beneath the generator was contaminated and DEC said the contaminated gravel will be excavated upon removal of the generator module. Another generator module must be delivered and installed to provide power to Pump Station 6 before the existing module is moved. The generator may not be moved for several weeks to months.