ANCHORAGE, AK – September 12, 1999 – The Trans Alaska Pipeline System was successfully restarted at 8:50 a.m. today after a 26-hour planned maintenance shutdown.  The pipeline was shutdown to replace a 48” mainline valve situated on the north bank of the Yukon River.  The valve was replaced because it did not seal completely when closed.  The valve replacement work was completed safely and ahead of schedule.  The valve removed from the pipeline will be inspected and repaired and returned to Alyeska inventory.

In addition to the valve replacement, over 165 other maintenance tasks were completed along the pipeline, at the pump stations and at the Valdez Marine Terminal.  The shutdown work was completed safely with only one minor first-aid injury.

Forty-six mainline valves were tested during the shutdown to check their internal sealing capabilities.  Fifty-six mainline valves were scheduled to be tested during this shutdown; sealing tests on ten valves were not completed due to time constraints and the crews being unable to establish pressure monitoring points.  Testing of these valves will be completed during a 4-6 hour pipeline maintenance shutdown scheduled for later this year.

Alyeska began a comprehensive valve testing program in 1996.  Thirty-seven of the 177 mainline valves remain to be tested.  The valve testing program is scheduled to be completed in 2000.  Of the valves tested, two have required repair.  Those two valves were repaired last September.  The valve replaced yesterday sealed within Alyeska’s performance criteria.  The decision was made to replace the valve due to its environmentally sensitive location.

Back to top