PHMSA faults Alyeska procedural docs

Federal regulators recently notified Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. of “apparent inadequacies” in the company’s operations and maintenance procedures.

An Aug. 9 notice from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to Alyeska, operator of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, cited 22 items requiring attention. Many appeared to be issues related to Alyeska manuals and other documents.

As an example, PHMSA said one written procedure “does not accurately describe” how Alyeska determines pipeline MOP, or maximum operating pressure. The agency notice said Alyeska “must amend its procedures to clearly indicate how their MOP is defined at all locations.”

Another agency criticism concerned a federal regulation requiring pipeline operators to protect valves from misuse. Alyeska “could not show PHMSA documentation that requires protection from unauthorized operation or vandalism,” the notice said. The agency ordered Alyeska to amend its operations manual and “reference where this required procedure may be found.”

PHMSA said it developed the notice after inspecting Alyeska’s operations and maintenance procedures in Anchorage on March 29 through April 1, 2011.

The agency did not propose any fine or other penalty.

“Once the inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed,” the notice said.

Alyeska spokeswoman Michelle Egan on Oct. 17 provided a statement to Petroleum News that said in part: “The issues raised by PHMSA in the notice pertain to paperwork, such as the use of certain terminology or whether procedures are appropriately referenced. Alyeska is working with PHMSA to address the issues raised and to update the document in question. The update will be complete in early November.”

Anchorage-based Alyeska operates the 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline and Valdez Marine Terminal on behalf of companies that own the system, including BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil.

PHMSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Alyeska’s president, Thomas Barrett, formerly was PHMSA administrator.

—Wesley Loy