100 pipeline workers graduate

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the North Slope Contractors Association and the Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council are graduating about 100 pipeline construction workers, workers qualified for jobs this winter at West Sak and other construction sites on Alaska’s North Slope.

Construction of a demonstration section of pipeline was part of the graduation.

The state said Nov. 19 that the Fairbanks training project was prompted in part by the August decision of ConocoPhillips Alaska and BP Exploration (Alaska) to initiate West Sak production in what will be the largest heavy oil development program in Alaska history. The state supported the Fairbanks training with a $334,000 grant from the State Training and Employment Program. Oil companies and unions committed more than $170,000 to the project.

Alaska Works administered the program grant for the state on behalf of the Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council and members of the North Slope Contractors Association. Alaska Works is a non-profit corporation representing building and construction trade unions and federally registered union apprenticeship and training programs. Labor Commissioner Greg O’Clary said the goal of the training was intensive under the guidance of instructors experienced in pipeline construction, with a goal to upgrade skills of workers from Interior and North Slope Alaska and introduce the crews to Arctic pipeline construction.

Pipeline contractors ASRC Energy Services, H.C. Price, Norcon, Flowline Alaska, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Great Northwest, NC Machinery and Airport Rental contributed equipment, a construction yard, materials and training supervision.

Apprentice training instructors, tools, supplies, equipment and safety personnel were provided by four trade unions: Operating Engineers Local 302, Plumbers and Pipefitters 375, Laborers Local 942 and Teamsters Local 959.