Strategic Reconfiguration work unfolding at Pump Station 3

Alyeska crews recently passed another Strategic Reconfiguration Project milestone, with this summer’s startup of the 2.25 megawatt Diesel Generator at Pump Station 3 (PS 3). The first fire of that generator at 9:15 a.m. on July 30 started the clock ticking, giving crews 270 days to meet provisions for the pump station’s new air permit and separate the station from the existing legacy equipment.

Pump Station 3 is the second station to undergo Strategic Reconfiguration (SR), with the SR work at Pump Station 9 getting closer to completion and approaching the isolation of the legacy equipment target for early October. The two projects’ power systems differ: PS 9, located near Delta Junction, gets primary power from a Golden Valley Electric Association substation. Backup power is supplied by two 2,250-kW Diesel Generators.

Pump Station 3 draws primary power from one of two Siemens Turbine Generators (TGs) that normally run on natural gas. The second unit is a backup unit and equipped to also run on turbine fuel in the event of a loss of fuel gas. The 2,250 kilowatt diesel generator is designed to automatically come online and provide backup power if needed should both the Pump Station lose both the main and backup Siemens Turbine Generators.

“The generators work well,” said John Plenger, Strategic Reconfiguration Program Manager. “To me, this is one of the critical phases of the project. Getting the utilities squared away at the station really is an important milestone; providing the electrical power to finalize commissioning and startup of the balance of facilities.”

Scott Hicks, Galbraith Area Manager, said crews at PS 3, pictured at right, are now conducting emissions and performance tests on the Siemens Turbine Generators – new work, since these generators aren’t found at PS 9. Over the weekend, crews at PS 3 worked through some challenges associated with the exhaust system with an acceptable plan being finalized.

Pump Station 4 is next up for SR work, and will have a power system that mirrors the one at PS 3. The project should go even more smoothly, with Pump Stations 3 and 9 under the belt, Plenger said.

“It is amazing how big a difference there is from the first time you do something, to the second time, to the third time,” Plenger said.

Plenger also gave credit to the hard-working Project and Operations teams at PS 3: “In an environment like this, with critical interfaces between the new and existing operating facilities, it takes everyone to make it work.”

Strategic Reconfiguration is a life cycle replacement project that focuses on reducing physical infrastructure and modifying operations to suit current throughput projections. The new system is more efficient, and because it’s modular and scalable, it will provide more flexibility for future increases or decreases in throughput.

Originally, the plan called for simultaneous SR work at Pump Stations 1, 3, 4 and 9. But in late 2006, a decision was made to focus on converting one station at a time. Pump Station 9 near Delta Junction was selected as the first station to upgrade and as work there winds down, crews are working diligently at PS 3.

Click here to view a short video featuring TAPS employee Bruce Jones explaining the work that remains before the station is fully transferred to SR operations. Jones, pictured at right, is the Construction Manager at PS 3.