In the Field
New Operations Control Center begins 24/7
operations
Alyeska’s new Operations Control Center
(OCC) began operating in a 24/7 mode in January. This
followed a successful period of parallel operations, when
Alyeska ran the new OCC during the day, with primary control
of the Pipeline and Terminal from the Anchorage site, and
transferred control back to the Valdez OCC during the night
shift. This phase of the OCC Relocation Project came after
several months of testing performed on all communications,
networks, control systems and applications necessary to
safely operate and control TAPS from the new control center.
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President's Message
Kevin Hostler, President and CEO
Unified Plan developed to improve
safety, integrity management on TAPS
Safety and environmental performance are two of Alyeska’s most
vital concerns in operating the Trans Alaska Pipeline System
(TAPS). Over the past year and a half, several operational
incidents occurred that could have indicated a departure
from Alyeska policies, standards, and the company’s safety
culture. These incidents have significantly impacted
Alyeska’s relationship with our regulators. I am happy to
say we are on a solid path leading us in the right direction
with the introduction of Alyeska’s Unified Plan.
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Face to Face
Adam DeWolf
Enterprise Network Manager
Adam DeWolf has one cool job. Whether it’s
testing new Cellular phones for the Alyeska Information
Technology team or touring Alaska mountaintops checking out
the company’s radio repeater sites, his expertise ensures
the successful communication throughout the Alyeska system.
As part of IT, Adam and his team are
accountable for the Alyeska business network, which includes
data center facilities in Anchorage and Fairbanks,
telecommunications for the entire company and all voice
services. In addition, it’s his job to evaluate new
communications technologies that come into the marketplace.
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Integrity Management on TAPS
Monitoring Permafrost
The 800-mile pipeline has its origin at the Prudhoe Bay oil
fields and its terminus at the ice-free Port of Valdez. The
pipeline route is underlain with continuous permafrost in
the North where the climate is the coldest. South of the
Brooks Range, across interior Alaska, the permafrost is
discontinuous, transitioning to sporadic permafrost along
the southern portion of the Copper River Basin. Alyeska has
focused much of its attention where the permafrost is
discontinuous and sporadic because it is closer to its
melting temperature. Climate and ground temperature
monitoring is ongoing in order to track and appropriately
respond to temperature changes.
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