Oil was first discovered in prudhoe bay on the north slope in 1968. Should oil pipelines be better regulated instead of flat out opposed. But others say that the industrys numbers are wrong and are actually. It stretches from prudhoe bay on alaskas north slope, through rugged and beautiful terrain, to valdez, the northernmost icefree port in north america. The trans alaska pipeline system was originally designed with 12 pump stations, though it was decided that only 11 were needed and a 12th was never built. The trans alaska pipeline system, or taps, was originally called the trans alaska pipeline project, and was a joint venture of atlantic pipe line company now conocophillips transportation alaska, inc. Alyeska pipeline service corporation acted as the ccmmon agent for the eight companies involved in the pipeline system. Conversation with an author of a new book on pipeline rust, regulation and safety. Before i begin talking about the impacts of the pipeline system, i felt it appropriate to first talk about the pipeline system itself. The discovery of oil on alaska s north slope in 1968 spurred the creation of a safe and efficient way to bring those reserves to. Pipeline operator alyeska currently uses it to service the structure. That such an ambitious idea is remotely possible largely rests on the fact that it mostly already exists. The pipeline project involved some 70,000 workers from 1969 through 1977. Transalaska pipeline, alaska kids corner, state of alaska.
A call for citizens oversight for the trans alaska pipeline. A white paper prepared by the copper river watershed project. It was built by the alyeska pipeline service company. Trans alaska pipeline will be useful for the proposed building of a gas pipeline by the. Specifically, it halted all legal challenges filed primarily by environmental activists against the construction of the pipeline. The system includes the 800milelong pipeline, which runs from prudhoe bay to valdez, and the valdez marine terminal, where oil is loaded onto tankers for shipment to market. The pipeline is often referred to as taps an acronym for the trans alaska pipeline system. Costs of building the transalaska pipeline were grossly underestimated. I can personally attest to many of the facts, and certainly many of the conversations quoted in the book, as i spent a week with chaplain lindsey on the north slope of alaska during the construction of the transalaska pipeline. Should oil pipelines be better regulated instead of flat out.
The issues set forth in this book are still compelling. Fairbanks, alaska chronic problems with pigs on the transalaska pipeline system taps seldom make headlines in the 49th state. In 30 years of operation the transalaska pipeline system has had its share of mishaps. A pump station blew up in 1977, spilling 300 barrels of oil. But the alyeska pipeline service companys struggles with the large, bulletshaped devices that perform inline cleaning and inspection tasks raise questions concerning safety of operations on the 800mile. And from the midpoint the town of coldfoot to the end of the road deadhorse, you wont find gas stations, restaurants, rest stops, or hotelsin fact, you wont find services.
The trail would follow an existing gravel service pad for the transalaska pipeline taps. Alyeska pipeline service company was established in 1970 to design, construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. To accomplish this i created a list of 8 facts that i felt help provide a better understanding of the trans alaskan pipeline system. Taps originates at pump station 1, located on the north slope of alaska, and terminates at the valdez marine terminal, in the city of valdez. Transalaska pipeline will be useful for the proposed building of a gas pipeline by the. The earliest possible construction of a trans alaska oil pipeline from the north slope of alaska to port valdez in that state will make the extensive proven and potential reserves of lowsulfur oil available for domestic use and will best serve the national interest. Costs of building the trans alaska pipeline were grossly underestimated. The environmental movement and the oil industry american.
A collection of accounts of the building of the trans alaska pipeline during the 1970s now the alyeska pipeline. Astronauts say they can see the transalaska pipeline from space oil takes five to six days to travel the 800 miles from prudhoe bay to valdez where the crude is loaded onto oceangoing oil tankers. The interesting thing to note about the highway is that there could have been a railroad here too, and possibly instead of the pipeline. Transalaska pipeline system dismantling, removal and. In 30 years of operation the trans alaska pipeline system has had its share of mishaps. For more information on the pipeline, visit the alyeska pipeline service company site. In our previous post regarding alaska, we traveled the dalton highway up into the arctic circle, a route that for the most part parallels the trans alaska pipeline. The energy noncrisis by lindsey williams reformation. Alaskas oil and gas industry has produced more than 17 billion barrels of oil and billion cubic feet of natural gas.
The transalaska pipeline system taps is an oil transportation system spanning alaska. In 1997, alyeska celebrated the 40th anniversary of operating taps. The transalaska pipeline system taps is an oil transportation system spanning alaska, including the transalaska crudeoil pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the valdez marine terminal. According to guinness world records, the panamerican highway is. Transalaska pipeline the 800milelong trans alaska pipeline system taps is one of the largest pipeline systems in the world. The trans alaska pipeline system was designed and constructed to move oil from the. The trans alaska pipeline system taps is an oil transportation system spanning alaska, including the trans alaska crudeoil pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the valdez marine terminal. Feb 01, 2012 the oil companies that run the transalaska pipeline suggest that if oil flows drop too low, the line could be compromised. Transalaska pipeline systems 40th anniversary center for. But the fact remains that congress bypassed previous legislation in order to have the pipeline built, even though the arguments in favor of it were not overwhelmingly convincing. A collection of accounts of the building of the transalaska pipeline during the 1970s now the alyeska pipeline. The transalaska pipeline system taps is operating at only onethird of its capacity, and there has been a 39 percent decline in the past 10 years. Feb 14, 2017 that such an ambitious idea is remotely possible largely rests on the fact that it mostly already exists. More than half of the pipeline runs above ground an engineering decision due to alaskas prevalent permafrost terrain.
Alyeska pipeline service company formed in 1970 to design, build, maintain and operate the trans alaska pipeline system. The musk ox, for example, would be one of the species affected by the route. It serves as a good lesson in a fast, intense investment in an area, showing what happens in terms of crowding, inflation, contract management, theft and longterm. Alyeska pipeline news center media resources fact sheets. The transalaska pipeline is a 48inch oil pipeline that traverses 800 miles 1,300 kilometers. The history segments air on american history tv ahtv on cspan3 and the literary eventsnonfiction author segments air on book tv on cspan2.
The transalaska pipeline authorization act of 1973 is a united states federal law signed by richard nixon on november 16, 1973 that authorized the building of an oil pipeline connecting the north slope of alaska to port valdez. Anwr is a key habitat for the limited musk oxen population in alaska, estimated at around. The oil companies that run the transalaska pipeline suggest that if oil flows drop too low, the line could be compromised. Since pipeline startup in 1977, alyeska pipeline taps operator has successfully transported more than 17 billion barrels of oil and loaded nearly 22,000 tankers at the valdez marine terminal. The transalaska pipeline system, completed in 1977 to carry north slope oil to the port ast valdez, has been recognized as a landmark of engineering. The transalaska pipeline system taps, one of the largest pipelines in the world, celebrates its 40year operational anniversary. It may not be well known or advertised, but a gravel path already traverses alaska from the arctic to the pacific ocean. Nepa requirements, land use planning, problems of transporting natural gas, the politics of oil in general. Heading out of fairbanks towards fox, there is a park called the trans alaska oil pipeline visitors center. It was built by the alyeska pipeline service company in 1977 to transport crude oil from prudhoe bays oil fields to a port in valdez to be loaded onto tankers and shipped to u. A call for citizens oversight for the transalaska pipeline. The pipeline, which carries more than 15% of americas domestic oil production, is 800 miles long and runs from prudhoe bay in the arctic to the prince william sound port of valdez in the south.
Brew abstract the environmental impact analysis made as required by the national environmental policy act of 1969 for the proposed transalaska pipeline included consideration of the 1 tech nologically complex and geographically extensive proposed. Lots of good anecdotes but not as deep as an oral history might be. The beautiful scenery, national parks, and wildlife are alaskas main natural resources and tourist. Trans alaska pipeline shot by a drunk the trans alaska pipeline was shot by a drunk. Bps agreement with hilcorp includes selling its 49 percent stake in the trans alaska pipeline system, which carries oil 800 miles through the alaska wilderness, from the. Taps originates at pump station 1, located on the north slope of alaska, and terminates. The gateway to taps updated may 2017 servs transition vessel capability pamphlet. Here you will find informational displays about the pipeline and an example of a pig, the device used to clean and inspect the inside of the pipeline.
The politics of oil and native land claims, author berry, m. To request a printed copy of the fact book, contact alyeska corporate. The system includes the 800milelong pipeline, which runs from prudhoe bay to valdez, and the valdez marine terminal, where oil. Alaska contains more than half of the worlds glaciers. The pipe began arriving in valdez in september, 1969 facts 81.
Riding the alaska railroad, part 1 i ride the harlem line. Astronauts say they can see the trans alaska pipeline from space oil takes five to six days to travel the 800 miles from prudhoe bay to valdez where the crude is loaded onto oceangoing oil tankers. Williams love for his country and concern for the spiritual welfare of the pipeliners, he volunteered to serve as chaplain on the pipeline, with the subsequent full support of the alyeska pipeline company. A basic 4x4 track, or service pad, follows the route of the transalaska pipeline and is used by alyeska pipeline service company to maintain its infrastructure. Vitus bering was the first to map the west coast of alaska. Often, the transalaska pipeline, which runs parallel to the road, is a drivers only companion. The pipeline today is recognized as a landmark engineering feat and remains essential to alaska s economy and central to the states industry. Transalaska pipeline shot by a drunk the transalaska pipeline was shot by a drunk. There are approximately 100,000 glaciers in alaska. The 800milelong trans alaska pipeline system taps is one of the worlds largest pipeline systems, an engineering icon that was the biggest privately funded construction project when constructed in the 1970s. Alaska pipeline the energy crisis game for sale online.
Transalaska pipeline system taps conocophillips alaska. This was exacerbated by the fact that police officers and state troopers. The trans alaska pipeline authorization act of 1973 is a united states federal law signed by richard nixon on november 16, 1973 that authorized the building of an oil pipeline connecting the north slope of alaska to port valdez. Native eskimo and aleut tribes inhabited the alaska area before it was discovered by vitus bering, a dane exploring for the russians, in 1741. An oil spill by an exxon tanker in prince william sound in 1989 damaged pristine coastline and led to battles between environmentalists and the oil industry. Users can purchase an ebook on diskette or cd, but the most popular method of getting an ebook is to purchase a downloadable file of the. The discovery of oil on alaskas north slope in 1968 spurred the creation of a safe and efficient way to bring those reserves to. Transalaska pipeline pipeline, alaska, united states. This fact sheet gave me great information on prudhoe bay. Alaskas transalaska pipeline transformed the states economy oil began flowing down the transalaska pipeline in 1977, transforming alaska into a. Taps is one of the worlds largest pipeline systems.
Transalaska pipeline, pipeline that connects the oil fields of prudhoe bay in northern alaska, u. At its fullest extent the panamerican highway is a network of roads stretching from prudhoe bay, alaska, to ushuaia, argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres 30,000 miles. Guide to the dalton highway livengood to deadhorse. Eco fleet vessel fact sheets 2018 ecoalyeska transition infographic map of prince william sound 2018 the valdez marine terminal february 2019.
The transalaska oil pipeline began its construction phase in 1974, and because of mr. Transalaska pipeline shot by a drunk earthly issues. The trans alaska pipeline system taps is approximately 800 miles in length. Alaskas transalaska pipeline transformed the state. Environmental effects of the alaska pipeline home images pipeline specifications references. Alaska pipeline the energy crisis game for sale online ebay. Aug 28, 2019 bps agreement with hilcorp includes selling its 49 percent stake in the trans alaska pipeline system, which carries oil 800 miles through the alaska wilderness, from the north slope oil fields at. Should oil pipelines be better regulated instead of flat. Alaska lies at the extreme northwest of the north american continent and is the largest peninsula in the western hemisphere. The first pipe of the transalaska pipeline system was laid on march 27, 1975.
282 1342 1229 903 1420 9 909 760 943 1203 1222 1407 814 339 51 308 753 940 768 181 435 273 1017 1411 1261 20 310 693 1145 255 694 246 1078 1393 356 1437 185 266 141 48 489 496 228 930 474 416 265