Pump Station 9 Returns to Normal Operation

Pump Station 9 returned to normal operation today after modifying its operation to prepare for approach of the Donnelly Flats wildland fire. The pipeline Right Of Way was inspected today and all pipeline facilities in the area are safe.

The fire approached the pump station perimeter yesterday. One small fire occurred inside the pump station’s fenced area yesterday when a wooden pallet caught fire. The pump station crew extinguished the fire using the station fire truck. Alyeska crews will continue to patrol and monitor inside the station fencing for the next few days.

To prepare for the possibility of the fire near the station, Alyeska crews cleared brush away from the perimeter of the station; built a reflective shelter around Block Valve 2; added sprinklers to the tank farm, Block Valve 2 and the office building; and moved all equipment away from the fence to limit fire access to fuel sources. The station also filled its crude relief tank to almost full to limit the volume of crude vapors in the tank and to provide thermal balancing.

Work Resumes on Valve Upgrade Project

Crews returned to work on a project to upgrade the control systems for the Remote Gate Valves on the afternoon of June 8 after almost eight months. The project was shutdown in October by Sr. Vice President Bill Howitt because of inefficient management of the project, inadequate implementation of Alyeska’s Quality Program and the allegations of a hostile work environment on the project. A list of items to correct the deficiencies had to be completed before work on the project was allowed to resume. On Wednesday, June 8, 1999, that permission was granted by Howitt in Fairbanks.

To resume work, the project team had to develop a restart plan that would address the project management issues and the use of Alyeska’s Quality Program. A separate assessment of the project, including the open workplace issues was conducted. Each of the nine findings from the assessment was addressed by the project team. Some of the remedial actions taken prior to restart of the project include clarification of the roles and responsibilities of the project team; clear guidance on how to address “out of scope” issues; and a clarification of the electrical codes to be used for work and inspection.

“I’m very pleased with the work done to restart on the project,” said Howitt. “The project team developed a clear mission, clear roles and responsibilities and a clear scope of work. Overall, they’ve taken control of the project and developed it into a project that meets my expectations of Operational Excellence.”

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