Pipeline Shutdown for Nearly Seven Hours

The trans-Alaska pipeline was shut down for nearly seven hours yesterday after the Systronics system, the system that controls communication between the Operations Control Center (OCC), the remote gate valves, Alascom and the pump stations, failed due to a short circuit at Pump Station 4. The event occurred at Pump 4 at 3:54 PM Wednesday. As is standard procedure during the loss of communication between any segment of the pipeline, OCC made the determination to shut the line down. Though the problem was quickly identified, a technician had to be flown from Pump Station 5 to fix the problem at PS4. The wiring in the damaged Systronics system was replaced and the pipeline resumed normal operation at 10:40 PM.

100 Millionth Barrel of the Year Passes Through TAPS

The 100,000,000 millionth barrel of crude oil this year passed through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System on Sunday, April 8th at 4:35 a.m.

Pipeline Reliability Factor for March

March Reliability 99.94%.
2001 Reliability 99.95%.
March Throughput 32,493,000 BBLS
March Daily Average 1,048,000 MBPD
2001 Throughput 92,655,000 BBLS 2001
Daily Average 1,029,000 MBPD

The pipeline reliability factor is the amount of time the pipeline is operating and available to transport North Slope Crude oil. There was one (1) proration during March which impacted the reliability factor. 03/05/01 - False fire inidcation at Pump Station 1 main meter building.

Back to top