ANCHORAGE, AK -- September 26, 1996 -- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company reported today that an eighty foot section of the Vapor Recovery System piping at the Valdez Marine Terminal will be replaced two weeks early. The new section will replace a portion of the existing piping that has had several pin-hole leaks in recent days, including two pin-hole leaks discovered and patched yesterday. The new pipe will be installed in the inert vapor line going to the East Tank Farm. The replacement will take place Saturday, September 28, and is not expected to disrupt pipeline throughput or tanker loading operations. Crude storage operations will be transferred to the West Tank Farm during Saturday's repairs.

Approximately 3,600 feet of Vapor Recovery System piping were replaced during an August shutdown of the system. Approximately 1,100 more feet of pipe will be replaced during the second shutdown in October. The Vapor Recovery pipe replacement work will be completed in 1997.

The Joint Pipeline Office has been notified of these plans.