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Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) June 20, 1977
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), usually called the Alyeska Pipeline in Alaska or the Alaska Pipeline elsewhere, is a major U.S. oil pipeline connecting oil fields in northern Alaska to a sea port where the oil can be shipped to the Lower 48 states for refining.
The main Trans-Alaska Pipeline runs north to south, almost 800 miles (1,300 km), from the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the Gulf of Alaska at Valdez, Alaska, passing near several Alaskan towns, including Wiseman, Bettles, Livengood, Fox, Fairbanks, and Glennallen [see map].
Construction of the pipeline presented significant challenges due to the remoteness of the terrain and the harshness of the environment it had to pass through. Between Arctic Alaska and Valdez, there were three mountain ranges, active fault lines, miles of unstable, boggy ground underlain with frost, and migration paths of caribou and moose. Geological activity has damaged the pipeline on several occasions.
Since its completion in 1977, the pipeline has transported over 15 billion barrels (2.4 Tl) of oil.
June 20, 1977
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) opened
Because of the earth's heat at greater depths, oil pumped from the Prudhoe Bay field, which is 10,000-to-20,000 feet deep, is at about 145 to 180 degrees F.
Pipeline Quick Facts
- The Trans Alaska Pipeline System was designed and constructed to move oil from the North Slope of Alaska to the northern most ice-free port in Valdez, Alaska.
- Length: 800 miles.
- Diameter: 48 inches.
- Crosses three mountain ranges and over 800 rivers and streams.
- Cost to build: $8 billion in 1977, largest privately funded construction project at that time.
- Construction began on March 27, 1975 and was completed on May 31, 1977.
- First oil moved through the pipeline on June 20, 1977.
- Over 15 billion barrels have moved through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System.
- First tanker to carry crude oil from Valdez: ARCO Juneau, August 1, 1977.
- Tankers loaded at Valdez: 19,625 through April 30, 2008.
- Storage tanks in Valdez- 18 with total storage capacity of 9.1 million barrels total.
- The mission of Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System is to safely escort tankers through Prince William Sound.
Last updated May 9, 2008
http://www.alyeska-pipe.com/pipelinefacts.html
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I searched and found this http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:mu9utDvhH98J:www.conocophillipsalaska.com/ArcticEnergy.pdf+Trans-Alaska+Pipeline+System+(TAPS)+%2B+expected+yield&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us&client=firefox-a[PDF] UntitledFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML [PDF] False Profits: The Business Case Against Drilling in the Arctic ...File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML |
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Hey, great! And, thanks! I'll check them out. |
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Very interesting...Does anyone know where the pipes were manfactured? Any inspection details? |
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Found many links searching "pipes manufactored for alaskan pipeline" The pipeline is constructed of X60 Grade, 0.344-in. wall-thickness pipe manufactured between 1976 and 1979, according to BP. Various segments of the pipeline are built from 30-in. or 34-in. nominal diameter pipe. Of the total 20-mile pipeline, 16 miles are scheduled for replacement. “In a processed crude oil transit pipeline, which had operated for almost 29 years without a spill, we discovered areas of severe internal corrosion,” Steven Marshall, president, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., said August 18, before the Alaska Senate and House Resource Committee. “Given our decades of past operating experience, we did not expect to see the degree of corrosion we found in the eastern transit line. Our engineers and corrosion experts also were concerned that the corrosion program we employed had not indicated the problem sooner.” continues... Fluid Handling | The Alaska oil pipeline: What went wrong?Aug 29, 2006 ... The pipeline is constructed of X60 Grade, 0.344-in. wall-thickness pipe manufactured between 1976 and 1979, according to BP. ... by Nancy Gates - 2005 - Reference - 240 pages [PDF] Major Pipeline Projects On the Horizon as of April 2008File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML [PDF] P-94-1(85-E)/P-97-4(73-E)/P-97-6(50-E)/P-97-7(56-E) - (3/15/00 ...File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML The trans-Alaska pipeline was the world's largest privately funded ... a hole in the pipe near Fairbanks, and 550000 gallons of oil spilled onto the ground. ... assembly of pipelines. In 1975, 485000 tons of pipe were manufactured from this ... Pipe produced by these firms has been laid in the USSR, Alaska, Canada, ... ConocoPhillips and BP Unveil Planned Alaska Gas Pipeline .... Rainbow Pipe Line Company Ltd. have sold the pipeline company to Plains All American Pipeline ... Jun 15, 2008 ... (AP) TransCanada Corp. has 36000 miles of pipeline moving natural gas throughout North America, enough pipe to circle the earth along the ... [PDF] Manufacturers of Spoolable Pipeline SolutionsFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML |
It is quite a sight, isn't it? I understand that it hasn't interfered with migration in any real sense, but it has been noted that certain animals may linger near it for awhile. I might be interested in seeking an answer to the only question I can think of right now, unless you already know what the answer is. "Over 15 billion barrels have moved through..."; I'm wondering if this is below, above, or approximately close to what was expected/projected to be the volume of oil that the pipeline would deliver by this date in time.