Alyeska Begins Management Review of Vapor Control System

Alyeska Pipeline has begun a comprehensive management review of the Tanker Vapor Control System at the Valdez Marine Terminal. The review was initiated based on mechanical and procedural concerns that have been raised since the system was started in March 1998. As part of this review, the entire tanker vapor control equipment, procedures, training and control functions will be scrutinized.

The tanker vapor recovery system is the first of its kind in operation. Due to the importance of the system, Dan Hisey, Sr. Vice President of the Valdez Business Unit, called for the management review to anticipate and address any additional operational issues. The review is expected to take approximately three months. Work plans for improvements will be designed and implemented as issues are indentified.

Recent activations of the Tanker Vapor Control System fire suppression system during maintenance activities on both of the vapor-controlled loading berths (Berths 4 and 5) helped prompt the management review.

Last week, Alyeska Pipeline determined that gaskets on the high pressure fire suppression system in the tanker vapor control piping at the Valdez Marine Terminal were incorrectly assembled last July. The gaskets are part of the initiating assembly which is used on the high pressure discharge extinguishers and on the fast-acting valve. The improper installation of the gaskets might have reduced the effectiveness of the fire suppression system during an actual incident.

In early March, a pressure sensor on Berth 5 malfunctioned, and activated the fire suppression system, during maintenance activities. During that activation, 11 of the 12 dry chemical fire extinguishers discharged fire suppressant into the Vapor Control System as designed. One of the 12 failed to discharge.

Berth 4, which was out of service due to a similar discharge event when the problem on Berth 5 was discovered, was immediately inspected and found to have the same improper gasket installations. All of the high pressure discharge extinguishers on both berths have now been properly installed.

Alyeska and Fenwal, the designers of the safety system, are currently investigating why the fire suppression systems activated incorrectly.

Pipeline Reliability Rate Remains High

TAPS Reliability March 1999: 99.76% Year to Date: 1999 - 99.87%. Total throughput for March: 36,586,072 barrels Daily Average for March: 1,180,196 barrels per day Total throughput year to date: 105,536,958 barrels Daily Average for 1999: 1,172,633 barrels per day.

Fishing Vessel Training Begins

Alyeska Pipeline’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) began its annual Fishing Vessel Training program March 25 in Seward with approximately 30 fishing vessels participating.

More than 350 fishing vessels are on contract with Alyeska throughout Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island to provide oil spill response assistance. Each year these vessels undergo specialized response training. This year’s training includes one day of classroom activities and two days of on-water field exercises. Classroom topics include Incident Command System, logistics, hazwoper refresher and marine safety. On-water activities include the transportation, deployment and tending of boom, skimmer operations, response tactics, communications, command and control, safety, decontamination, decanting, barge loading, mini barge towing/operations.

Alyeska’s near-shore support barge, Escort Response Vessel Freedom Service and landing craft Krystal Sea will be taking part in the exercises.

Preventing an oil spill is part of SERVS’ two-fold mission. The other is mobilizing the response and recovery resources needed if there is a spill. Fishing vessel support is an integral element for open water, near-shore, wildlife protection, and burning response strategies.

SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

Homer/Seldovia - April 5 - 8 - approximately 60-80 vessels. Homer/Seldovia participants will be joining Tesoro and CISPRI on April 8 in an area wide exercise testing response equipment.

Pipeline Flow Reduced Due to Tanker Delays

Alyeska Pipeline and the North Slope Producers reduced pipeline throughput on April 3 to approximately 73 percent of normal pipeline flow due to tanker delays. Tanker schedules have been delayed because of poor weather in the Gulf of Alaska. A tanker is currently alongside and has begun loading operations. North Slope Producers returned to 100% production at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 6. Additional tankers are expected to arrive today and tomorrow, which will reduce tank storage inventory.

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