Alyeska Pipeline - News Center

Alyeska's Otter Rehabilitation Facility earns environmental honor

The Alaska Oil and Gas Association recently recognized Alyeska's Otter Rehabilitation Facility, its recent upgrade and demonstration, and the wide-ranging teams that completed the effort, with the AOGA Industry Award for Project of the Year for Environmental Stewardship and Innovation.

Based at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT), the Otter Rehabilitation Module, also known as the "Otter Hospital," is a rare facility designed to treat and rehabilitate otters affected by an oil spill. It was originally designed and built in the mid-1990s. In 2017, Alyeska upgraded and fully demonstrated the facility to confirm optimum readiness and fit-for-purpose for deployment during a spill response, which led to the award recognition.

"It feels awesome," said Stacia Miller, Alyeska's Wildlife Response Coordinator who has overseen the Otter Hospital since 2013. "All the people and teams connected with it are so dedicated. And I think it's exceptional that our company cares enough to have something like this."

The facility is innovative by design as a contingency marine mammal hospital and unique in its scale. It has cleaning and holding rooms, a nursery, a clinic and a necropsy unit, and provides necessary space and equipment for receiving, weighing, sedating, cleaning and drying otters. Up to 20 otters can be treated within the hospital per day with up to 100 recovering in the holding unit. The in-water pre-release holding facilities can accommodate up to 250 otters.

That may sound exciting, but in reality the Otter Hospital is a modular, conex-based contingency facility that is not in continuous use, frequently operated or regularly deployed. The facility consists of 16 conex units and associated supports, loading platforms, walkways and mechanical and electrical hookups.

In the event of an oil spill, the units, which are housed at the Valdez Marine Terminal Emergency Response Base, must be fully operational within 72 hours of notification. For compliance purposes, Alyeska must occasionally demonstrate that.

Fortunately, the facility has not been needed for a spill. But after 20 years of sporadic use, compliance set-ups and teardowns, and long stretches of storage, the facility itself needed a rescue – or as SERVS determined, a major remodel.

After months of planning and ordering needed equipment, the remodel was underway in 2016. The work included a full remodel of core hardware and finishes such as cabinetry, and interior and exterior paint. All plumbing and electrical systems were tested and repaired or replaced as needed. Non-skid flooring surfaces were also added. Desks, appliances, scales, medical supplies, and a decontamination station were also added.

Miller said that these improvements will extend the facility's useful life and optimize function, and "when the update was completed, the facility looked too good to not show others."

So in 2017, the units were set-up in the VMT’s Emergency Response Building (ERB) as part of an annual exercise field deployment. Although the exercise was the driver for the setup, there were other objectives, Miller noted. It would serve as training for employees and interested external parties, a chance to update and create new training materials, and to examine if past lessons learned and known improvements were implemented during deployment.

The deployment kicked off on February 23, 2017. Houston's Baseline crew installed the units and walkways; Alyeska's Instrumentation, Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance teams installed the electrical and plumbing systems. It was quickly determined that units could easily be set-up within the 72-hour compliance mandated timeline.

SEED Media, a Valdez-based contractor that often assists with SERVS training videos, created two videos – one focused on the mobilization and set-up of the facility; the other video shared what would happen once the facility was in use.

The SERVS contingency response planning team organized an exercise. Leaders and innovators in the field of marine mammal rehabilitation from International Wildlife Research (IWR) and Alaska Sea Life Center led the treatment demonstration, walking all participants through the steps of triage, cleaning and caring for sea otters. Numerous agencies participated, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard and Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council. Alyeska staff from SERVS, Environment, Safety, and Operations also participated.

Miller said that, "observers were impressed with the level of expertise demonstrated by IWR and Alyeska's well-maintained facility. Very few lessons learned were gleaned from debrief, which shows the intense level of thought, preparation and hard work that were put towards creating a functional otter hospital. In fact, the hospital was so well received that it resulted in Alyeska receiving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Regional Director's Excellence Award as Outstanding Partner."

In a nomination for the AOGA award, Jan Shifflett, Alyeska's Sr. Environmental Manager, wrote, "Comprehensive success in prevention, preparedness, and response is not a singular effort or action by Alyeska, agencies, or other stakeholders. Collaboration and partnership with all involved entities generates optimal and mutually beneficial outcomes. Achievement is collective and interconnected. The Otter Rehabilitation Module upgrade and demonstration provides an example of agencies, marine mammal experts, and industry working together to ensure environmental stewardship through best practices, collaboration, and innovation."

The AOGA Industry Award for Project of the Year for Environmental Stewardship and Innovation annually honors an Alaska oil and gas industry project that demonstrates superior environmental stewardship in its area of design, construction or operation and/or an innovative approach that sets a new standard for industry design, construction or operation in Alaska.

New group of summer interns joins Alyeska teams

Alyeska's 2018 summer interns have arrived. From left to right, Dorothy Lord Matthew (Alyeska Senior Alaska Native Program Coordinator) and interns Emma Chastain, Robert Clark, Lowen Guzman, Cory LePore Jr., Curtis Richardson, Cooper McLaughlin, Keelah Fisher, Steven Glasheen, Collette Kawagley, Brandon Bachman, Henrique Miller, Noah Lovell, Kendra Robbins, Zach Howard, and Lisa Booth (Alyeska Alaska Native Program Director). Not pictured, interns Sydney Belz, Kristopher Don and Kyle Sun.

Seventeen interns with Alaska roots have joined Alyeska to develop work experience and sharpen professional skills in the 2018 Summer Internship Program.

On May 21, Alyeska kicked off the summer intern session. Interns will spend the summer working in Anchorage, Fairbanks, at the Valdez Terminal, and at pump stations along TAPS. As they approach the end of summer, each intern will showcase their development and personal projects during a final presentation.

"This is an exciting time for us introducing a new group of talent that could take part in the future of TAPS," said Lisa Booth, Alyeska's Alaska Native Program Director. "In this years' class we have a cross section covering many areas of the company, from technician interns at Pump Station 1 and VMT, and interns in engineering, business and projects in Anchorage, Valdez and the field. I'm very proud of this program and the overall commitment across the organization to make it successful and to immerse the students in meaningful work experiences that introduce interns to what a career on TAPS would be like."

Booth added that interns play an important part in Alyeska's Alaska Native Utilization Agreement program, which develops and trains students interested in pursuing careers in the oil industry.

Cory LePore Jr. is this year's lead intern; he will take on additional duties this summer such as coordinating meetings and networking opportunities for his fellow interns. Four returning interns will continue applying what they learned last year to new projects, furthering their experience and knowledge of TAPS.

This summer's interns are:

• Brandon Bachman of Anchorage, a computer systems engineering student at UAA who will work in IT in Anchorage.

• Sydney Belz of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at UAF who will work in Engineering Standards & Programs in Anchorage.

• Emma Chastain of Anchorage, an accounting major at the University of Arizona who will work in Accounting in Anchorage.

• Robert Clark of Douglas, AK, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in Projects in Anchorage.

• Kristopher Don of Palmer, a process technology/instrumentation graduate at UAF who will work in Pipeline Operations at Pump Station 1.

• Keelah Fisher of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in Projects in Anchorage.

• Steven Glasheen of Bethel, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in Pipeline Engineering at various pump stations.

• Lowen Guzman, originally from Hawaii and now a longtime Alaska resident, a student of mechanical engineering at UAA who will work in O&M Engineering in Valdez.

• Zachariah Howard of Valdez, an energy systems electrical engineering tech student at Idaho State who will work in Maintenance I&E in Valdez.

• Collette Kawagaley of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in Engineering Standards & Programs in Anchorage.

• Cory LePore Jr. of Bethel, who has a degree in economics from UAF and will work in the Engineering Standards & Programs in Anchorage.

• Noah Lovell of Fairbanks, a marketing student at UAF who will work in the Corporate Communications in Anchorage.

• Cooper McLaughlin of Palmer, an electrical engineering student who will work in O&M Engineering in Valdez.

• Henrique Miller, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, now a resident of Talkeetna, an electrical engineering student at UAA who will work in Ops Engineering in Anchorage.

• Curtis Richardson of Anvik, a construction management student at UAA who will work in Projects in Anchorage.

• Kendra Robbins of Anchorage, an electrical engineering student at UAA who will work in Engineering Assurance & Support in Anchorage.

• Kyle Sun of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Denver who will work in Ops Engineering in Anchorage.

Alyeska's summer internship period runs through early September. Recruitment for 2019 internships begins in September 2018. For more information about Alyeska internship opportunities, contact Dorothy Lord-Matthew at (907) 787-8640 or visit www.alyeska-pipe.com/Employment/InternshipsDevelopmentOpportunities.

ECO tugs, barge and crews exercising in PWS

The first three vessels of the new Edison Chouest Offshore fleet -- and numerous crew members and captains -- that will take over the Alyeska Marine Services Contract in July arrived in Port Valdez in March. They're already hard at work, performing in a variety of major exercises and drills in Prince William Sound.

The escort tug Commander, general purpose tug Elrington, and the oil spill response barge OSRB-1 spent recent weeks performing more than 30 tether/tow exercises, crucial barge deployments with fishing vessels, and learning the ins-and-outs of Valdez operations. Here are some images of the vessels and crews in action. Training/exercises in the weeks ahead include more demonstrations and exercises.

Two more vessels, the Courageous and Latouche, are en route to Alaska and expected to arrive in late April/early May. The full fleet of five new escort tugs, four new general purpose tugs, four new oil spill response barges, five new escort work boats and more will be in Valdez by June. All are standard design and purpose-built for work in Prince William Sound.

Meanwhile, ECO mariners continue a range of training, as well. That includes hands-on and classroom work, bridge coordination training at AVTEC in Seward, and time in a custom-built simulator at ECO headquarters in Louisiana. By the end of 2018, ECO mariners will have completed more than 20,000 collective hours of Alyeska/Prince William Sound-specific training.

Alyeska among World’s Most Ethical Companies for seventh year

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company is one of the World's Most Ethical (WME) Companies® for the seventh year in a row. The Ethisphere® Institute announced its selection today and will honor recipients at the 2018 WME Honoree dinner on March 13 in New York.

"Alyeska Pipeline Service Company is honored to receive this distinction again," said Tom Barrett, Alyeska President. "It is a tribute to the professionalism and integrity of the people who operate the Trans Alaska Pipeline System."

In 2018, 135 honorees were recognized, spanning 23 countries and 57 industries. The twelfth class of honorees had record levels of involvement with their stakeholders and their communities around the world. Measuring and improving culture, leading authentically and committing to transparency, diversity and inclusion were all priorities for honorees.

"While the discourse around the world changed profoundly in 2017, a stronger voice emerged. Global corporations operating with a common rule of law are now society’s strongest force to improve the human condition. This year we saw companies increasingly finding their voice. The World's Most Ethical Companies in particular continued to show exemplary leadership," explained Ethisphere’s CEO, Timothy Erblich. "I congratulate everyone at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for being recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies."

The Ethisphere® Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance. The full list of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

Transition Transmissions: Progress, enthusiasm, engagement

AK VOICES: Improved prevention, response capabilities coming to Prince William Sound
Alyeska President Tom Barrett recently wrote about the progress and enthusiasm behind the transition of Alyeska's marine services provider for Prince William Sound operations from Crowley Maritime to Edison Chouest Offshore. Read the column, which ran in the Juneau Empire and other Alaska newspapers.

FLEET UPGRADES ON THE WAY!
It's quintuplets! Edison Chouest Offshore is building five identical escort tugs for operations in Prince William Sound: the Commander, Courageous, Contender, Champion and Challenger. The Commander (right in the two-boat photo above) launched in November and will arrive in Prince William Sound in early March. The Courageous (left above) launched in December and will soon chug over to Tampa where crews will install its drives (enormous propellers) and skeg (a large keel).

EXPERIENCED CREWS

School's in session! Edison Chouest Offshore kicked off its three-week training programs in October at its headquarters in Galliano, Louisiana. Masters, mates, engineers and tankermen participated in the training that focused on getting them ready for work in the pristine environment of the Prince William Sound this summer. It also introduced Alyeska's safety culture and our Ship Escort/Response Vessel System's (SERVS) mission-specific training. In this photo, crew members practice inflating SERVS'current-buster boom, shipped to Louisiana for the training along with skimmers and power packs that SERVS stages for oil spill response.

ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
In November, Alyeska brought some longtime Vessel of Opportunity Program participants to check out the Oil Spill Response Barges (OSRBs) under construction in Portland, Ore. Torie and Troy from Cordova were able to get a glimpse of OSRB-2 and 3. Even better, they boarded OSRB-1, the first vessel to launch! The new Edison Chouest Offshore barges feature nearly open decks with lots of the usual features tucked below. This is great because a clearer deck means a safer work space for busy crews deploying boom and other equipment. That's Troy and Torie in the photo above; the OSRB-2 is in the photo below.

IMPROVED FLEET

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Check out this 100-disk Crucial skimmer! It's the largest ever made and one of eight specially fabricated for the four new Edison Chouest Offshore open water barges arriving in Prince William Sound this spring. Two go on each barge and their fuzzy disks can skim up to 50 percent more oil than standard skimming systems.

HIGH-TECH TRAINING
An Edison Chouest Offshore crew member sits in the captain's chair of the custom-built escort tug simulator in ECO's training center in Louisiana. The simulator – created by ECO with input from Alyeska, TAPS tanker captains and pilots, and others – lets crews practice communication and bridge resource management. It's like a video game offering real-world knowledge and incredible education ... no quarters necessary! And in a few months, crews will install the simulator at the ECO's Valdez office.

ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
Roy and David Totemoff of the Tatitlek Corporation and Tatitlek IRA Council even had the chance to take some spins on the Edison Chouest Offshore vessel simulator in May!

MEET THE FLEET

=In 2017, Alyeska led several tours of Edison Chouest Offshore shipyards and other facilities for Prince William Sound regulators and stakeholders. Participants included the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council board members and staff, SERVS' Vessel of Opportunity captains, community leaders from around the Sound, state and federal officials and many more. These visits were especially important opportunities for ECO to hear directly from PWS neighbors about their concerns and lifestyles. One group of stakeholders was able to visit the general purpose tug, Elrington, in an ECO drydock at Port Fouchon, La. They got an up-close-and-personal view of the "smaller" tug before it relaunched and started sea trials. This tug sure doesn't look small to us, but it's all relative when you're talking about these incredible and massive vessels!

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCEThe vessels may still be in the Lower 48, but Edison Chouest Offshore captains are already getting firsthand experience working in Alaska's winter weather and conditions. Beginning in October 2017, ECO captains and other personnel started rotating through Valdez a week at a time, learning about Alyeska's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System and riding along on Crowley tanker escorts. This will continue until all ECO tug captains have had the Valdez experience.

FLEET UPGRADES
2017 marked an amazing year of progress on the marine services transition. While Alyeska, Edison Chouest Offshore, Crowley and others worked in a variety of areas, the headway was most visible in vessel construction. Over the course of the year, staff and regular visitors to ECO shipyards saw small pieces of steel cut and welded together to create larger and larger units until they began to take familiar form, and eventually and excitedly became tugs (like the Commander) that will arrive in Prince William Sound this spring.

ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council board members, staff and volunteers have visited Edison Chouest Offshore shipyards several times in 2017. In June, a group visited LaRose, La., to see the Commander under construction. For all visitors who walk past these giant vessels in dry dock, it's impressive to watch all the parts and pieces come together to create these amazing and massive boats. And it never gets old!

FLEET IMPROVEMENTS

Get any good gifts for Christmas? The first Edison Chouest Offshore escort tug got propellers and a skeg! Hardworking crews in Tampa, Fla., installed the large controllable-pitch propellers and a keel-like skeg on The Commander over the holidays!

FLEET IMPROVEMENTS

Start your engines! The Edison Chouest Offshore escort tugs each feature two 6,168 horsepower Tier 4 engines -- that's 12,336 HP, a 20 percent increase over the current escort tugs! The engines and generators are lowered into place fairly early in the construction process, and other units are installed around them. Check them out below and learn more about the specs on these spectacular vessels at www.alyeska-pipe.com/TAPS/SERVS.

ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
A Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council staff member looks through the forward staple of the new Edison Chouest Offshore tug Elrington during a recent tour. There's so much to see when you visit these ships! And we've been excited to share these experiences with partners and stakeholders from Prince William Sound and beyond.

Resilience revisited: TAPS and the Denali Fault Earthquake

November 3, 2017, was the 15th anniversary of the 7.9 magnitude Denali Fault Earthquake. To mark the milestone, the U.S. Geological Survey shared a 2003 fact sheet that revisited the event, explored the earthquake's impact and noted the resilience of TAPS. The report begins:

A powerful magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Alaska on November 3, 2002, rupturing the Earth's surface for 209 miles along the Susitna Glacier, Denali, and Totschunda Faults. Striking a sparsely populated region, it caused thousands of landslides but little structural damage and no deaths. Although the Denali Fault shifted about 14 feet beneath the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, the pipeline did not break, averting a major economic and environmental disaster. This was largely the result of stringent design specifications based on geologic studies done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and others 30 years earlier. Studies of the Denali Fault and the 2002 earthquake will provide information vital to reducing losses in future earthquakes in Alaska, California, and elsewhere. …

The Denali Fault earthquake ruptured the Earth's surface for 209 miles, crossing beneath the vital Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, which carries 17% of the U.S. domestic oil supply. Although slightly damaged by movement on the fault and by intense shaking, the pipeline did not break in the quake, averting a major economic and environmental disaster. This success is a major achievement in U.S. efforts to reduce earthquake losses.

Click here to read the full report, which includes a link to an earlier fact sheet, "The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Survives the Quake – A Triumph of Science and Engineering."

TAPS throughput totals increase for second consecutive year

The volume of oil that moved through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System increased in 2017, marking the second straight calendar year-over-year increase. The 2016 upturn was the first since 2002.

In 2017, TAPS moved 192,472,797 barrels at an average of 527,323 barrels daily. Compared to 2016’s throughput – 189,539,817 barrels total and 517,868 barrels daily average – the year-over-year total increase was 1.5 percent. The 2016 total increase over 2015 (185,582,715 barrels) was 2.1 percent. The recent upward trend of TAPS throughput is positive news for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the TAPS' operator, and for Alaska.

"More oil flowing through TAPS means a safer, more efficient and more sustainable pipeline system,"said Tom Barrett, Alyeska President. "Increased throughput also signals a stronger economy for Alaska and more opportunities for Alaskans."

In 2017, Alyeska celebrated its 40th anniversary of operations following startup on June 20, 1977. At the close of 2017 operations, the cumulative total of barrels moved since startup was 17,648,210,557. In recent years, TAPS has faced escalating challenges brought on by declining flow, which leads to slower-moving oil and the potential for cooling temperatures, ice formation in the line, and water and wax to drop out of the flow stream and accumulate. Alyeska teams have worked to adjust to the lower flows, including adding heat, monitoring winter operating temperatures and modifying pipeline pigging operations. But the best-case operations scenario is bringing more oil to TAPS.

"We benefit from an external business and regulatory environment that supports increased, responsible exploration and production on the North Slope and in the Arctic," Barrett said. "North Slope operators are leveraging efficiencies and technology to increase production and discover new oilfields. All of these efforts play into increases in TAPS' flow levels."

Statue of limitations: Iconic, but hefty, monument moves

The stern-but-hopeful crew that has stoically guarded the Valdez Marine Terminal since 1980 is no longer.

Fear not -- TAPS' stellar security team is still on the job. But the iconic pipeline monument, commonly known as "The Statue," was removed from the Terminal on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Alyeska, with support from the TAPS Owners, donated the famous statue to the City of Valdez in commemoration of TAPS' 40th Anniversary.

The 37,000-pound pipeline statue was sculpted from bronze by Malcolm Alexander (1924-2014). It represents the 70,000 workers who designed and built the pipeline over the three years and two months. There is the surveyor, engineer, laborer, welder and Teamster; the laborer is an Alaskan Native and the Teamster is a woman. Next to the statue, a plaque reads, "We didn't know it couldn't be done."

The statue stood watch over the Valdez Marine Terminal since installation in September 1980. Though originally positioned outside of the security boundary of the Terminal, the security gate was moved after September 11, 2001, and the statue has been off limits to the public ever since. Back when it remained accessible to the public, visitors and employees alike regularly posed at the monument's base for photos. After the change in security access, it continued to be a favorite stop for those working on Terminal.

Over several months, Alyeska and the city officials worked diligently to move the massive structure, nimbly adjusting to a few complications like an unknown weight, a base constructed from 1200 psi concrete and the need for specialty contractors to assist with removal. Alyeska safety crews made sure that the work to remove was done with caution and care. When the statue finally made its way out the gate, employees and Alyeska firetrucks sent it off with one final salute.

Finally, on a rainy August morning, North Star, a local company who had contracted with the city to pick and move the statue, arrived on terminal. They fastened crane slings to pre-installed bolts on the base of the statue. Over the course of eight minutes, the crane picked the statue up and gently moved it over to a waiting truck. When the statue finally made its way out the gate, employees and Alyeska firetrucks sent it off with one final salute.

Later this fall, the statue will be installed at the Kelsey Dock where it can continue to watch over the Terminal from across the bay.

Alyeska investigating crude release at Valdez Marine Terminal

Alyeska is responding to a release of crude oil onto water at the west end of the Valdez Marine Terminal near Berth 5.

Crews have secured the source of the spill. Crews at Berth 5 on the Terminal reported seeing sheen on water at around 11:30 a.m. today.

Alyeska stood up an Incident Management Team. Teams on scene have boomed the area where sheen was visible and are carrying out spill response and recovery tactics, including skimming.

Press release (9-21-17)

Fact sheet #1 (9-22-17)

Fact Sheet #2 (9-22-17)

Press Release – Fact Sheet #2 (9-23-17)

Press release (9-26-17)

9-22-17 Photo #1 of Valdez Berth 4 and 5
This photo is from the air, looking west.The shore of the Valdez Marine Terminal is in the left corner of the photo, Berth 4 is in foreground and Berth 5 is in the background.Boom from shore along Berth 4 is visible, as is additional booming around Berth 5. Response vessels are in between the berths, and beyond Berth 5. The photo also shows the sheen between the berths.

9-22-17 Photo #2 of Valdez Berth 4 and 5
This photo is looking southeast towards the Marine terminal. Berth 5 is in the foreground, Berth 4 is in the background, boom and response vessels are visible as well as a sheen between the berths.

9-23-17 Photo #3 Berth 4 and surrounding area
Responders use a Current Buster and sorbent boom to collect rainbow sheen that has been contained near the Valdez Marine Terminal. Photo shows Berth 4 and the surrounding area.

9-23-17 Photo #4 of Berth 4 and 5
Response personnel actively work to contain and collect rainbow sheen near the Valdez Marine Terminal. Yellow containment boom is used to concentrate oil so it can be picked up.

9-24-17 Photo #5 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #6 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #7 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #8 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #9 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #10 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #11 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #12 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #13 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #14 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #15 of Berth 5 response

9-24-17 Photo #16 of Berth 5 response

9-25-17 Photo #17
Looking southeast toward the Valdez Marine Terminal, Berth 5 is in the foreground and Berth 4 is in the background. Crews have deployed white absorbent boom along the shoreline of the Terminal, which will collect any remaining sheen as the area cycles through tides.

9-25-17 Photo #18
An overhead view of the area between Berths 4 and 5 on the Valdez Marine Terminal shows the narrow area where remaining sheen is in front of the Main Firewater Building, the structure onshore, lower left. The sheen is controlled by white absorbent boom, which will collect any remaining sheen as the area cycles through tides.

Tanana River Drill: Combined resources, shared successes

Major spill response exercises on TAPS involve months of planning, multiple teams and dozens of people, and immense expectations that Alyeska meet its commitments to protect Alaska in a pipeline emergency.

These exercises are also a chance to shine. Employees from across the company join together with TAPS contractors and representatives from state and federal agencies and others. Together, they demonstrate expertise, skills, and above all, compassion and energy toward safety and shielding Alaska's environment.

This high performance level was on display at the Aug. 9 Combined Resource Exercise on the Tanana River. The Tanana River exercise simulated an oil leak as the result of sabotage in piping on the north bank of the river; the scenario had oil leaking into the river, and called on TAPS' mightily trained fleet of responders. In all, about 175 people were involved, heralding from the Fairbanks Response Base, PS9/DRB, GRB, SERVS, Anchorage, Valdez, and multiple state and federal agencies.

"Exercises are like pipeline shutdowns in that teams face a tremendous task in a compressed time period with a lot of expectations and no shortage of scrutiny," said Hillary Schaefer, Alyeska's Pipeline Director and the Incident Commander for the exercise. "I'm proud to say that all objectives were met, and this success was the result of a significant amount of collaboration and teamwork."

The Tanana River crossing is one of TAPS' prettiest and most photographed areas, a picturesque suspension span that gleams and glints from the north to south bank as the pipeline approaches Pump Station 9.

The Aug. 9 exercise was unique for its notable scope and field presence. A large Incident Management Team assembled in Fairbanks, as the Mobile Command Post stood up at Pump Station 9. From there, two Alyeska helicopters ran air ops missions along the Tanana, nimbly conducting surveillance and shuttling materials.

Meanwhile, in Delta Junction, a sleepy highway crossroads town with an official population of fewer than 1,000 people, Alyeska responders sprang into action. That day, they launched 14 river vessels, the largest deployment to date for this kind of exercise.

Joining together to work in four unique task forces, all boats were in the water shortly after 8 a.m. – a swift and skillful deployment from the boat ramp at the Tanana Crossing. That ramp is seen clearly from the Richardson Highway.

This visibility also made this exercise unique, as many of TAPS' field deployments happen in remote locations. Several motorists pulled over to take pictures, including vacationing tourists and a geocacher. Several area residents stopped by to chat with Alyeska staff before boating downriver to shoreline cabins.

"Because much of the response was visible to the public in the Delta area, we made sure to give our neighbors advanced notice about our planned activities," Schaefer said. "We maintained a friendly and informative presence on scene to answer any questions."

The day wasn't without challenges. Responders were frequently cautioned that the river was running deep and fast and cold – conditions that could have altered or sidelined some spill response tactics. Teams remained alert, conducted all tasks, and in the end, task forces were afforded a chance to deploy a new kind of river buster.

"That was exciting for our field teams – especially since their work was conducted in such challenging conditions, with the river running at higher-than-normal volumes, requiring us all to be extra vigilant about safety," said Earl Rose, Alyeska's Oil Spill Coordinator and the Operations Section Chief for the exercise. "Everyone involved should be proud of how they demonstrated Alyeska's commitment to protecting Alaska."

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