FAIRBANKS, AK –  SEPTEMBER 16, 2000 - The trans Alaska pipeline was successfully shut down for planned maintenance at 7:00 this morning by the Operations Control Center in Valdez.  This shutdown is scheduled to last at least 27 hours to conduct maintenance and repair work along the pipeline.

Alyeska employees and contractors will work on 86 maintenance projects during the shutdown.  The work should be completed in time for the scheduled restart at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.

The biggest and most expensive project on the maintenance schedule is the $5.8 million replacement of Check Valve 74 in North Pole.  Check Valve 74 was damaged last July and will be replaced with another check valve from Alyeska’s inventory.

32 other valves are also scheduled for testing during the shutdown period as part of the four-year valve-testing program.  The systematic testing of the 177 main line valves is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.  The purpose is to test the sealing capabilities of each valve in the closing position.

The producers on the North Slope are continuing to pump oil at less than 25% of their normal rate. The crude is being diverted to storage tanks at Pump Station 1 for the duration of the shutdown period.

For more information contact: Curtis Thomas, Fairbanks Business Unit Communications Manager (450-5857) or in Anchorage, Tim Woolston, External Affairs Director (229-0169).

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