News Bulletin 1356
Additional Bullet Strikes Discovered on Pipeline
ANCHORAGE, AK – October 19, 2001 –
Alaska State Troopers notified Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Thursday evening that at least 4 additional bullet strikes had been
discovered near MP 400. The discovery was approximately one mile north
of where a bullet punctured the trans-Alaska Pipeline earlier this
month.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the October 4 incident,
the AST along with Alyeska was doing a detailed examination of the
pipe when the additional strikes were discovered. These bullet strikes
penetrated the outer insulation jacket and while they didn’t cause
any leaks, did cause sufficient damage to the pipe wall to require
repair. That repair, consisting of two sleeves, will be done today.
Until the integrity of the pipeline could be determined, crews
continuing cleanup operations at MP 400 were cleared out last evening,
but were allowed to return several hours later.
It is not known at this time whether the bullet strikes existed
prior to the October 4 incident. The pipeline was not shut down and
will continue operating while the repair work is done. The appropriate
agencies have been notified.
Alyeska has documented more than 50 cases over the years in which
bullets have struck the pipe. Some of those incidents also required
repairs to the pipe. |