ANCHORAGE, Alaska –
Alyeska crews are
preparing for this summer's second major
shutdown, scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. Saturday,
July 31, and run through Sunday, August 1,
lasting up to 36 hours.
The major maintenance shutdowns are a
significant part of Alyeska’s ongoing pipeline
integrity management program, and a significant
investment of resources dedicated to operating
and maintaining the Trans Alaska Pipeline
System.
"Alyeska’s philosophy is to tackle
maintenance issues before they become problems,"
said John Baldridge, Senior Director for
Pipeline Operations. "The upcoming shutdown
includes upgrades along TAPS so that we can
continue running the 33-year-old pipeline safely
and efficiently."
A successful shutdown involves a majority of
the TAPS organization and months of preparation,
culminating in intensive field activities
coordinated with the Operations Control Center
in Anchorage. Major projects that will be
accomplished during the July shutdown include:
Replacement of a 36-inch valve at Pump
Station 9. This valve is used weekly for pig
passage.
Rerouting aboveground gas supply lines
at Pump Stations 3 and 4, replacing existing
belowground fuel gas piping and considered a
proactive measure to ensure uninterrupted
gas supply to turbine generators.
Other work:
Replacing a 6-inch bypass spool piece at
Check Valve 2.
Testing and modifications on the Safety
Integrity Pressure Protection System (SIPPS)
for Pump Stations 3, 4, 5 and 11.
Continuation of pipe shoe replacements
south of Atigun Pass.
Replacement of a stem seal on the Pump
Station 9 48-inch M-2 valve.
Preventative maintenance of the Valdez
Marine Terminal incoming pressure control
valves at the East Metering facility.
Alyeska conducts line-wide shutdowns annually
to allow maintenance crews time to work on
projects simultaneously along the pipeline and
at the Valdez Marine Terminal. Shutdowns
typically coincide with producers’ routine
maintenance on equipment and facilities on the
North Slope.
For further information, contact Michelle
Egan, Alyeska Corporate Communications Director,
at 787-8870.
About Alyeska: Alyeska operates the 800-mile
Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), which runs
from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope south to the
Port of Valdez, the northernmost ice-free port
in the United States. The pipeline crosses three
mountain ranges and 34 major rivers and streams.
Alyeska operates out of Anchorage, Fairbanks and
Valdez and at various facilities along the line.
Alyeska was created to construct, operate, and
maintain TAPS for the owner companies. The
current TAPS owners are BP Pipelines (Alaska),
ConocoPhillips Transportation Alaska Inc.,
ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, Unocal Pipeline
Company Inc., and Koch Alaska Pipeline Company
LLC.