Week of Aug 3, 1998

Crews at the Valdez Marine Terminal are rebuilding a vapor control valve which did not pass a quarterly preventative maintenance test. The “Fenwal” valve is part of the Berth 5 tanker vapor control system. The berth was immediately taken out of service and will remain out of service until the valve is repaired. As part of the quarterly preventative maintenance procedure, the valve was operated and did not close when test pressure was applied. The cause of the problem is corrosion around the O-ring seals. The corrosion appears to be the result of an extinguishing agent which was released into the system on March 30. A complete investigation of the corrosion is underway. The valve gate is being thoroughly cleaned before it is reassembled. During the same preventative maintenance procedure, it was discovered that several of the pressure sensors and infared detectors in the system were out of calibration or were otherwise not operating properly. As a result, the preventative maintenance frequency for the Fenwal system is being reviewed. In the interim, the Fenwal valve and associated components are being tested prior to each use of the vapor control system. The Fenwal valves are strategically installed for each berth. If the sensors detect a flame (through infrared detectors) or a pressure wave, the valve closes within 50 milliseconds. Twelve high pressure fire extinguishers, six on each side of the valve, also instantly discharge dry chemical extinguishing agent into the vapor recovery piping in conjunction with the valve closing. Crude loading operations are automatically shutdown, and the vapor recovery system is isolated from all other systems. The Fenwal valve system is one of several safety systems within the Vapor Control process. A vapor control system shutdown can be initiated by any of the following conditions: high oxygen content in the vapor suction line; low pressure in the vapor suction line; oxygen analyzer malfunction; ship vapor compressor shutdown; detonation controller malfunction; activation of any pipeline detonation detector or failure of detonation system controller; or by an operator in the Operations Control Center or at the Berth. Taking Berth 5 out of service will have minimal impact on tanker loading schedules though some uncontrolled tanker loading is occurring until the valve is repaired. Berth 4, the other berth with Vapor Controls, was tested and found to be fully functional. Berth 4 continues to crude loading operations.

A pipeline check valve south of Thompson Pass has developed a minor weep near the top of the valve. Sorbent pads have been placed around the weep to collect any oil. No oil has been released to the ground. The weep is occurring at about a rate of one drop every 24-hours. The valve was excavated about six weeks ago in preparation for repair work on the valve scheduled for late September. It is believed that the removal of the soil from on top of the valve relaxed the O-ring, allowing the seep to begin. The weep will be monitored and repaired as part work to be performed in September.

Alyeska Pipeline’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) began the transition to a single vessel contractor on August 1, 1998. Crowley Marine Services will become Alyeska’s vessel contractor following a two year transition period. These vessels are used as part of the tanker escorts and for oil spill prevention and response in Prince William Sound. Alyeska moved to a single contractor to provide the most efficient use of the vessels in Prince William Sound.

Tidewater vessels have served as escort tugs and escort vessels for the past nine years. The Tidewater vessels will be phased out of service and replaced by Crowley vessels over the next two years. Two Tidewater tugs and an escort response vessel were released from service on August 1 and two Crowley tractor tugs, The Protector and The Guard, joined the SERVS fleet in their place.

Alyeska Pipeline will hold an informational presentation in Fairbanks on the Mainline Valve Replacement and Repair Projects scheduled for later this summer. As part of these projects, one valve will be replaced and another repaired in place to bring the valves up to Alyeska’s operational standards. The presentation will be held Thursday, August 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Doyon Industrial Facility, followed by a tour of Pump Station 9 near Delta. If media are interested in joining the presentation and/or the tour of Pump Station 9, please contact Jennifer Ruys.


	Alyeska Pipeline Service Company - P.O. Box 196660, Anchorage, AK, 99519-6660 (907) 787-8700; alyeskamail@alyeska-pipeline.com Anchorage Communications Office: 907-787-8870 Fairbanks Communications Office: 907-450-5857 Valdez Communications Office: 907-834-7303 Copyright 2008 Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. All Rights Reserved.