WASHINGTON, D.C. -- October 17, 1997 -- Twenty years ago oil first flowed through the Trans-Alaska pipeline, the first pipeline of its kind. On Thursday, October 23 an exhibit will open at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

The 800-mile pipeline bisects the length of the state from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to Prince William Sound on the Gulf of Alaska. Along the way, the 4-foot diameter pipeline crosses the Brooks, Alaska, and Chugach mountain ranges, fords 834 rivers and streams, and must survive temperatures that soar to 95 degrees in the summer and plunge to -80 in the winter.

"We didn't know it couldn't be done," are the words inscribed on a monument to the 70,000 men and women who labored to complete the project in three years.

As detailed in the exhibit, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the company charged with the design, construction and operation of the Trans-Alaska pipeline, had to invent new ways to lay pipe safely to protect the extremely fragile Arctic environment. Because permafrost would react to the hot oil in the pipe, over half (420 miles) of the pipeline was elevated and a passive refrigeration system was installed to keep the ground stable. At 579 locations, special animal crossings were designed to allow for unrestricted animal migration through the pipeline corridor. When the project was completed, 18,000 earthmoving machines and cranes moved more than 73 million cubic yards of rock, gravel and other materials.

Alyeska Pipeline has safely transported almost 12 billion barrels of North Slope crude oil through the pipeline. At peak production, the pipeline moved 2.1 million barrels of crude oil per day; today the daily average is 1.35 million barrels. Approximately 20 percent of the oil produced in the United States comes through the pipeline.

"We have seen first-hand how development can coexist with our natural resources and our way of life," said Jacob Adams, chairman and president of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC). ASRC is the parent organization of several pipeline contract companies who work with Alyeska to provide safe oil transportation

"We are thrilled to share with the American people the tremendous accomplishment of building an important pipeline under extremely harsh conditions," said Bob Malone, president and CEO of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. "We are also proud that we continue to protect the extremely fragile environment of this most beautiful state."

The exhibit, which includes a segment of the pipeline, construction items and Native Alaskan artifacts, will be at the national Museum of American History through the Spring of 1998.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska is an Aleut word meaning "mainland" and is the native name for Alaska) designed, constructed and operates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Alyeska, incorporated in 1970, is a joint venture of BP Pipelines Inc., ARCO Transportation Alaska, Inc., Exxon Pipeline Company, Mobil Alaska Pipeline Company, Amerada Hess Pipeline Corporation, Phillips Alaska Pipeline Corporation and Unocal Pipeline.

What: Reception and special press preview of Smithsonian Exhibit

When/Where:

National Museum of American History
14^th & Constitution
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.

Who: Guests include White House officials, members of Congress and VIPs as well as representatives from each of the seven owners of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

Print and broadcast press must RSVP and register with contact above.

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