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Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. enters fiber optic age Largest communication upgrade in company history links pipeline, Anchorage, Fairbanks at high speed, wide bandwidth Steve Sutherlin PNA Contributing Writer
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. began converting in November from its current microwave communications system to a newly installed fiber optic network. The change is the most extensive communications upgrade in company history and will provide more secure and reliable communications, greater data carrying capacity and allow for new applications such as real-time video conferencing.
The backbone of the system is an 847 mile fiber optic cable installed along the pipeline right-of0way and the Dalton Highway to link Valdez and the North Slope. The cable was installed by Kanas Communications Inc., a joint venture of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., Ahtna Inc., Chugach Alaska Corp. and Metropolitan Fiber Systems of Omaha, Neb.
Kanas, based in Anchorage, was formed in June of 1996 to take advantage of the Alyeska cabling opportunity. Metropolitan Fiber Systems, contractor for construction, operations and maintenance has established an office in Anchorage and a network operations center in Fairbanks.
Lowell Humphrey of Kanas said the project involved five subcontractors and provided more than 150 jobs during construction. Operations will employ 40 to 45 workers on a year-round basis with 25 positions in Fairbanks and the balance in Anchorage, he said. The system is linked to Anchorage via the GCI Alaska United Whittier to Valdez undersea cable. In turn, the Kanas cable is Alaska United’s link to Fairbanks. A new era in pipeline communications Alyeska initiated a search for a fiber optic provider in order to operate a more modern company, said Alyeska spokesman David Lawrence. “Our role is to help a community of pipeline people communicate more effectively,” he said.
In addition to voice communications, the system will host a company-wide intranet system as well as linking mission-critical controls such as the remote gate valves that minimize discharge from the pipeline in the event of an oil spill.
The current ATT analog system is 20 years old and historically has been problematic north of Valdez due to snow buildup on microwave dishes, Lawrence said. The satellite backup feature of the current system will remain in place to provide a backup for the fiber optic line, he said.
Fiber optics will provide considerably more bandwidth and lightning fast connection speeds. The capacity will allow drawings and technical information to be shared over the system insuring mark up accuracy and eliminating version problems so that all interested parties are looking at the same information, said Lawrence.
Training and engineering information stored on CD ROM in Anchorage, Valdez and Fairbanks will be available instantly to workers at pump stations and remote locations, he said, and Alyeska employees will be able to access aerial photos of the line showing land ownership, corrosion measurements and current status, dig sites, rivers, topography and history without leaving their computer terminals.
The Joint Pipeline Office will be able to access similar data using the same technology, Lawrence said. Desktop video cameras will allow visual contact between workers at scattered locations fostering a stronger sense of community within the company, he said. Extensive investment for efficiency, security and Y2K compliance Alyeska is installing new routers, bridges and cabling at every pump station, Lawrence said. Components of the current system that are not Y2K compliant will be replaced.
The company will also be installing the Microsoft NT operating system at all desktops, Lawrence said, and a new and more powerful security firewall will be put in place as a part of the upgrade.
Once telecommunications is cut over to fiber, data systems will be converted, with the block valve system to be connected last, Lawrence said. When testing is complete the analog system will be decommissioned, he said, with full operation of the fiber optic system is targeted for the end of 1999. Communications opportunity for pipeline neighbors Alyeska needs only about 20 percent of the capacity of the fiber optic line, leaving the balance free for other users, Lawrence said. ARCO Alaska Inc. has signed on for a voice line and a data line from Prudhoe Bay to its downtown Anchorage office that was connected in January, said Humphrey of Kanas.
Humphrey said Kanas is talking with Copper Center, Glennallen and other communities along the line about connecting as well as the military for connections to Fort Greeley and Fort Wainwright. Humphrey said Kanas is also exploring the possibilities of linking Alpine and other North Slope oil fields to the system.
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