Design, route survey and selection

Archaeological survey 

• Contractors — University of Alaska, Alaska Methodist University
• Cost, total — $2.2 million approx.
• Sites excavated, total — 330 approx.

Soils survey 

• Bore holes — 3,500 approx.
• Soil samples — 15,000 approx.

Time devoted to preconstruction effort — 6 years approx.

Government oversight 

Permits required, number

• Federal — 515
• State — 832

Notices to Proceed required, number

• Federal — 465
• State — 403
  

Pipeline, pump station, road, terminal, construction 

Time required to complete — 3 years, 2 months (Apr. 29, 1974 to June 20, 1977)

Contractors and subcontractors, total number — 2,000 approx.

Cost, construction — $8 billion

Ditching, dimensions —

• Below-ground ditches — 8 ft. wide, 8 ft. deep approx., but variable for overburden depth.
• Below-ground pipeline overburden — 3 ft. to 35 ft.

Temporary facilities 

Materials 

• Shipped to Alaska, total weight — 3 million tons approx.
• Gravel used for entire project, total — 73 million cu. yds.
• Gravel used for workpad — 32 million cu. yds.
• Largest piece shipped — floating tanker berth (3,250 tons)

Testing, hydrostatic pressure —

• Maximum, equivalent to 96% of specified minimum yield strength.
• Minimum, 125% of operating pressure or 750 psi, whichever was greater.
  

Welding

Double joints****, number — 42,000

Field girth welds, number — 66,000

Passes for field girth welds, number

• .562 in. pipe — 7
• .462 in. pipe — 6
  

Workforce 

Peak — 28,072, Oct. 1975 (includes Alyeska employees and contractors)

Peak, contractor only — 21,600

Total over life of construction project (1969-1977) — 70,000 approx.

Minority hire, percentage — ranged from 14% to 19%

Women, percentage — ranged from 5% to 10%

Lives lost — 31, in incidents directly related to construction (includes Alyeska, contractors and subcontractors; excludes common carriers)

Construction camps, names and locations

Pipeline Construction Notes