Trans-Alaska pipeline leak causes shutdown

[Newsjock]

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/8549714p-8443550c.html

By WESLEY LOY
Anchorage Daily News

The 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline is shut down because of a leak north of Coldfoot, a spokesman for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. said.

About 500 gallons of crude oil has leaked from a valve onto a gravel access road and work pad, Alyeska’s Mike Heatwole said.

The leak has been stopped and a cleanup and investigation has begun, he said.

[liberal N proud]

1. Time for a spike in gas prices

[northofdenali]

2. Not a bad one, fortunately, and it wasn't the pipeline itself -

This was just north of Coldfoot.

The pipeline was shut down shortly after a worker found the apparent slow leak while conducting routine maintenance and surveillance along the pipeline about 8:20 a.m. today.

The leak occurred at what is known as Remote Gate Valve 32, one of 177 major valves on the pipeline that close to prevent large spills in the event of a major problem.

It wasn’t the valve itself, nor the actual pipeline, that leaked, Heatwole said. Rather, it’s believed the leaking oil came from a smaller “bypass valve” that’s part of Remote Gate Valve 32, he said.

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/8549714p-8443550c.html

Location: Close to P4:

Coldfoot:

Rough time for cleanup - it's 42 below here in Fairbanks, about the same there but with wind (I've never been to Coldfoot when the wind wasn't blowing). Glad it wasn't in the pass (Atigun Pass); it would be even more difficult to find and fix. Didn't affect the Haul Road, either, just an access pad.

[Texifornia]

3. I know

Exactly what that valve does.

I am a gearhead oil patch geek.

Yes, I do have trouble getting girls.

[northofdenali]

8. Tex, you wouldn't up here -

we really don't have ENOUGH geeks of any ilk in the Fairbanks area - they're all in Anchorage or Juneau!!

Bit of a mess, but way, way better than the BP spill at the Slope a couple months ago.

[Tellurian]

4. Just last night, Discovery Ch showed the construction of the AP

The OIL companies need more oversight and heavy fines for failure to follow guidelines.

As soon a the pipeline was completed it leaked.

Under the construction guidelines, each seam was to be X-Rayed for closure,
which it just so happens, never occurred before the pipeline was put into service.

All they probably did was fix the leaky seams the first time, and never did finish the job according to
their contractual specifications.

[Imagevision]

5. AGAIN??!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. now watch them pull a rabbit out of their hat.

I seem to recall predicting this very thing when the pipeline was sold, and they severely cut back on maintenance as unprofitable.

[Javaman]

10. Man, you are up on your Rocky and Bullwinkle moose!!! Again?! LOL nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. their political humor is still funny today.

far better than boredcast TV. they managed to have humor on two levels, sardonic, sarcastic adult humor, and child-amusing cartoon funnies.

Of course, there is nothing funny about the administration.

[MaineDem]

7. My immediate reaction as well. (n/t)

[Erika]

9. The pipeline is so vulnerable

Much of it is above ground with little security.

[Ezlivin]

11. And ANWR would be environmentally untouched by oil drilling?

Could someone tell me how the oil companies are going to perform better once they've opened up ANWR?

And could someone also tell me when Exxon will pay for the Valdez accident?