Alyeska Discovers Mechanical Damage
During Investigation Dig
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company discovered damage
to the pipeline near Mile Post 710 during an underground
corrosion investigation dig on Friday, May 19. The damage
includes gouges on the outside of the pipeline in five areas
that appears to have been caused by mechanical equipment
during construction of the pipeline. Repairs are underway and will include smoothing the damaged wall surface, coating it, and installing steel sleeves
at two of the five damaged areas to restore the pipe to
original maximum allowable operating pressure of 901 pounds
per square inch. The Joint Pipeline Office and the Office
of Pipeline Safety have been notified. Alyeska
Pipeline investigates and repairs corrosion on a regular
basis. Smart pigs are mechanical devices that travel through
the inside of the pipeline and gather information on wall
thickness, irregularities, and loss caused by corrosion. Investigations for corrosion are scheduled based on interpretation of pig data.
Berth 4 Loading Briefly Suspended
On Saturday, May 20, loading on Berth 4 at the Valdez
Marine Terminal (VMT) was suspended for approximately two hours when the Tanker Vapor Control System experienced a detonation system malfunction alarm. A loose terminal connection on a pressure detector caused the alarm and was repaired. The
Tanker Vapor Control System is installed at Berths 4
and 5 at the VMT. It collects hydrocarbon and inert vapors
produced during the loading of crude oil into tankers at
the terminal. The vapors are collected and integrated into the existing tank farm Vapor Recovery System
Small Crude Spill at Pump Station 1
Approximately eight gallons of crude oil were spilled
into a building and contained on the floor of the Endicott
crude oil receiving facility at Pump Station 1 on Friday, May
19. A vacuum truck and sorbent pads were used to clean up
the spill. Approximately ¼ cup of crude seeped onto snow
under the building and was removed and incinerated. The
spill was caused when a half-inch valve was inadvertently
left open during previous maintenance activities.
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