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Drift River: oil in 20-inch line removed
KRISTEN NELSON Petroleum News
Cleanup continues at the Drift River Terminal Facility on the west side of Cook Inlet following two spills discovered in July.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Spill Prevention and Response said in an Aug. 25 update that crude oil in the 20-inch fill line was removed Aug. 16, following arrival Aug. 15 of a marine tanker.
The division said in earlier reports that the first spill was discovered July 2 when a Cook Inlet Pipeline Co. operator was doing a facility inspection; the second was found July 28 when pipeline staff inspected areas above the buried 20-inch fill line.
The spill occurred because the 20-inch fill line was over pressurized when two tanks were being emptied in preparation for internal inspection.
Total spill volume unknown The spill discovered July 2 involved 14 gallons of crude oil inside a valve box, with 1 gallon on the ground.
The spill found July 28 was a crude oil stain at the surface of one of the buried 20-inch fill line blind flanges. CIPL reported a surface stain area with a triangular dimension 24 feet by 24 feet by 30 feet.
On Aug. 10, free product was discovered when workers were excavating a buried flange. The division said the total spill volume is unknown, but CIPL will submit a spill volume estimate based on waste generated as part of its final report.
The division said grid line delineations have been completed at dig site 2, where the oil stain was discovered July 28, and at dig site 1, where free product was discovered Aug. 10.
Dig site 1 is some 12 feet by 20 feet and dig site 2 is some 60 by 60 feet.
Five dig sites identified The division said five dig sites have been identified to delineate potentially impacted area.
Sheet pilings are required to protect workers at the dig sites and the sheet pilings arrived Aug. 22. The division said CIPL expected to complete staging materials at dig sites 1 and 2 the week ending Aug. 26.
CIPL will continue delineation and contaminated soil excavation once the sheet piling is in place and will submit a soil sampling plan and a waste management plan for DEC approval.
CIPL and DEC “will discuss the future of the 20-inch fill line system and testing required for the system,” the division said.
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