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Alyeska completes maintenance shutdown
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. has completed a July 17-18 30-hour maintenance shutdown of the trans-Alaska pipeline system, the first major maintenance shutdown of the line since August 2019.
Alyeska said this was the only long-duration shutdown scheduled for this year, with two short-duration shutdowns, 12 hours or less, scheduled for Aug. 13 and Aug. 27. A long-duration shutdown allows maintenance crews time and opportunity to work on coordinated projects along the line and at the Valdez Marine Terminal, the company said.
The shutdown began July 17 at 6 a.m. and the pipeline was restarted at 12:32 p.m. July 18, with oil over Atigun Pass by 1:10 p.m., with no safety or environmental incidents during the shutdown.
“Implementation teams successfully opened and closed crude oil pressure boundaries, safely moved tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil to temporary storage, made changes inside the pipeline control system, completed critical heavy lifts and field welded sections of the mainline pipe,” the company said.
Months of preparation and planning between field locations and Alyeska’s Operations Control Center were required for the shutdown, along with coordinating with multiple organizations that work on the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and with the North Slope producers.
Planned shutdowns “Planned major maintenance shutdowns are a hallmark of our wholistic and innovative approach to integrity management,” said Brigham McCown, Alyeska president, prior to the shutdown. “These actions demonstrate the care and attention TAPS’ people place into understanding our dynamic operations in Alaska’s unique environment so we can continue to operate this critical piece of infrastructure for Alaska and our country for years to come.”
Work scheduled for the shutdown included:
*Removal of piping previously used to inject drag reducing agent at Pump Station 1 in Prudhoe Bay, replacing it with 48-inch straight piping.
*Installation of new actuators on Pump Station 1’s two large oil tanks, the third phase of a four-part project to replace the tank’s input and output valves.
*Installation of an 87-foot section of 48-inch piping between two valves at Pump Station 7 at milepost 43 on the Elliot Highway north of Fairbanks. This isolates a section of station piping no longer needed for operations. Pump Station 7 is not currently used to pump oil.
*Systemwide upgrading of Alyeska’s safety integrity pressure protection system.
*Other work including valve work and testing and cabling repairs.
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