ANCHORAGE, AK - Alyeska Pipeline Service Company reached a significant milestone over the last several days in its efforts to upgrade and modernize equipment with the start up of the electrified pumps at Pump Station 9, located just south of Delta Junction.

Oil first flowed through the newly installed equipment at about 4:30 last Friday evening and began using the new pumps on a continuous basis today.

Alyeska alternated the pumping of oil using its "legacy", or existing, equipment and then switching to the newly installed electrified pumps through the weekend.  The legacy pumps were the same style of pumps that have been in place since the Trans Alaska Pipeline System's (TAPS) original startup in 1977.  Alternating between the new and the legacy equipment gave technicians and engineers an opportunity to test the new system in several different ways.  While work at Pump Station 9 still remains before Alyeska declares a complete startup of the operations, the testing phase is essential in providing assurance that the system meets the company's needs.

This is a significant step in Alyeska’s measured, phased approach to complete the modernization of Pump Station 9.  Alyeska crews will closely monitor the equipment operations and make necessary adjustments as warranted over the next 30-45 days.

The Pump Station 9 work is part of a project Alyeska calls Strategic Reconfiguration.  This project is a significant upgrade to the pipeline's pump stations and control system using modern technology and processes.  The project involves installing electrically driven crude oil pumps at four critical pump stations combined with increased automation and upgraded control systems.

In addition to being more efficient, the new equipment uses modern pollution control technology.  Additional environmental improvements will include reduced domestic and industrial waste generation, and a lower risk of spills due to the reduction in requirements for liquid turbine fuel delivered by truck.

This will position TAPS for more efficient operation while maintaining or enhancing safety, operational integrity and environmental performance.  The new system, which is modular and scalable, will also provide more flexibility for future increases or decreases in throughput.

Once Alyeska officials are satisfied with Pump Station 9’s performance, crews will turn their attention to reconfiguring Pump Station 3.  Alyeska engineers will apply the lessons learned from the Pump Station 9 project to help with the completion and startup of Pump Station 3.  Alyeska will then focus attention on making upgrades to Pump Stations 4 and 1 respectively.

“Our focus has been on the safe, quality startup of Pump Station 9,” said Kevin Hostler, Alyeska President and CEO.  “We will learn from this as we move our resources to Pump Station 3.  While this is an exciting time for us, there is still work to get done on this project.”

Hostler further noted that Strategic Reconfiguration may be the largest project Alyeska has undertaken since the original construction of the pipeline.

“We have a lot of work to do before all upgrades at the pump stations are complete and I am extremely proud of the hard working men and women who have put in a lot of extra hours to upgrade this station,” Hostler said.  “I also want to acknowledge the team that got us to this point and this includes our contract workforce.”

Pipeline Vice President Jim F. Johnson is not only proud of the work performed on Pump Station 9, he is also pleased with the processes Alyeska put in place to ensure employee concerns regarding the project were received, evaluated and addressed appropriately.  "We pride ourselves on our open work environment that allows employees and contractors to voice their concerns about any phase of a project or work activity.  We are very satisfied with how the work has progressed at the site and we thank all involved for their commitment to deliver the project safely."

There were three major contractors responsible for the implementation work at Pump Station 9.  ASRC Energy Services Pipeline, Power and Communications (PPC) installed the modules and all of the piping, electrical and communications equipment and systems; Kakivik Asset Management performed the required inspections; and Udelhoven Oilfield System Services completed the functional checkout of each component and system.  These implementation activities were followed by Alyeska Commissioning and Start-up teams, who successfully brought the station on line.  All of the work associated with Strategic Reconfiguration has been closely coordinated and monitored by state and federal regulating agencies including the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Transportation, and the Joint Pipeline Office.

More than 15 billion barrels have moved through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System since startup in 1977.

TAPS is owned by a consortium of companies that include BP Pipelines (Alaska), ConocoPhillips Transportation Alaska, Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, Unocal Pipeline Company, and Koch Alaska Pipeline Company, L.L.C.

More information about Alyeska’s Strategic Reconfiguration project is available at www.alyeska-pipe.com.

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