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ALYESKA REPORT
WEEK OF AUGUST 10, 1998
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"Hot Taps" Successfully
Drilled into Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Over the weekend, Alyeska
completed two "hot taps" on the trans-Alaska pipeline at Remote Gate Valve (RGV)
80, north of Delta. Hot taps are made when a hole is drilled into the pipeline through a
"split-tee" fitting while oil is flowing. These hot taps will provide access
ports into the pipe for equipment which will be used to isolate the RGV 80. Two more hot
taps will be installed at Check Valve (CV) 122, north of Valdez, at the end of this week.
The hot taps were made in preparation for two major valve repair and replacement projects
scheduled for late September. The two projects are occurring at RGV 80 and CV 122. After
the hot taps were drilled, they were sealed and left in place until access to the valve is
needed.
RGV 80, a 48-inch above ground valve,
will be removed and replaced with a valve from Alyeska's inventory. CV 122, which is
buried, will be repaired in place by replacing the internal sealing elements with
equipment from Alyeska's inventory.
Later this summer, stopples will be used to
isolate the valves from the oil flow. A stopple is a sealing device that is inserted into
the pipeline through the hot tap. Once the valves are isolated, they will be cleaned and
repaired or replaced.
Alyeska Pipeline has tested 77 of the 177
block valves on the pipeline. Two of those valves, RGV 80 and CV 122, did not meet
Alyeska's performance criteria and are being repaired.
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