SERVS Demonstrates Containment/Recovery
Barge Decanting Procedures

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) conducted an exercise on Friday, December 3 in Port Valdez to demonstrate decanting procedures of the Trans-Rec barge Mineral Creek. This was the last of four skimming barges to be tested.

The exercise began at 9:00 a.m. Approximately 24 people participated in the exercise which included representatives from SERVS, Crowley Marine, Tidewater Marine, and Tatitlek Chugach Chenega Corporation (TCC). A tug towed the Mineral Creek to the center of Port Valdez and was met by an Emergency Response Vessel (ERV) and two fishing vessels. The ERV deployed 1600 feet of ocean boom to the fishing vessels that pulled the boom around the stern of the skimming barge, simulating oil spill containment. Skimmers on the barge were deployed and began simulated recovery operations. Although seawater was not loaded into the barge, water was pumped through the skimmers at a rate of 6,600 barrels per hour for six hours. The entire process, including settlement time and pumping time, demonstrated actual decanting procedures. The exercise was observed by representatives from the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (RCAC), and was completed by 4:00 p.m.

When on-water spill recovery begins, a combination of seawater and crude is recovered and pumped into the barge. Decanting is the process of removing seawater from the barge so that only crude oil remains inside.

New Low Flow Switches For Tanker Vapor Control System Approved by U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard approved Alyeska’s request for new low flow switches for the Tanker Vapor Control System (TVCS) at the Valdez Marine Terminal to address occasional oxygen analyzer malfunctions. The recommendation for new switches was one of the high priority items that resulted from an Alyeska management review of the TVCS. The switches will be ordered and installation is tentatively scheduled for January 2000.

1999 Pipeline Reliability Remains High

November Reliability: 99.31%
1999 Reliability: 99.60%
November Throughput: 31,404,000 barrels
November Daily Average: 1,047,000 barrels per day

1999 Throughput: 359,644,000 barrels
1999 Daily Average: 1,077,000 barrels per day

The pipeline “Reliability Factor” is the amount of time the pipeline is operating and available to transport North Slope Crude oil. There were two shutdowns that impacted reliability: a Remote Gate Valve communication failure on November 9, and planned maintenance work on November 13

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