Alyeska’s pump station 9 returns to normal operation after fire threat

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.’s pump station 9 returned to normal operation June 14 after modifying its operation to prepare for the approach of the Donnelly Flats wildland fire. The pipeline right-of-way was inspected and all pipeline facilities in the area were found to be safe.

The fire approached the pump station perimeter June 13. One small fire occurred inside the pump station’s fenced area June 13 when a wooden pallet caught fire. The pump station crew extinguished the fire using the station’s fire truck. Alyeska crews were expected to continue patrolling inside the station fencing for several more days.

To prepare for the possibility of the fire near the station, Alyeska crews cleared brush away from the perimeter of the station; built a reflective shelter around block valve 2; added sprinklers to the tank farm, block valve 2 and the office building and moved all equipment away from the fence to limit fire access to fuel sources. The station also filled its crude relief tank to almost full to limit the volume of crude vapors in the tank and to provide thermal balancing.