TAPS: Supporting Alaska

Inspecting underground segments of TAPS is complicated and occasionally frustrating work, to say the least. Inspecting a section of underground pipe set along some of the most unpredictable and unrelenting waterways in one of the roughest and coldest areas on the 800-mile TAPS route – well, that’s Atigun Award-worthy work.

A diverse group of Alyeska staff and TAPS contractors and subcontractors safely and successfully completed never-before-done-on-TAPS work so that a segment of difficult-to-reach pipe could be inspected, sandblasted, coated and buried properly. They did it with teamwork, innovation and grit. Despite a unique and daunting project plan, they worked with an extraordinary level of environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance and safety.

This is being celebrated with a 2017 Atigun Award for Environment, which recognizes achievements in environmental protection, habitat enhancement, regulatory compliance or pollution prevention. The project was also recently honored by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association with its Project of the Year for Environmental Stewardship and Innovation Award.

"It was a monumental effort – that's about the best way I can put it," said Jim Fowler, a longtime Ahtna Site Supervisor. "A crazy amount of work. Millions of gallons of water. Environmental challenges. Weather to contend with. The first time driving steel sheet piling to do a mainline excavation. This was pretty much unheard of."

***

At TAPS Milepost 18, the pipeline and Dalton Highway closely parallel the cantankerous Sagavanirktok (Sag) River and are sandwiched by tundra ponds. During some spring break-ups, the Sag River floods the area and beyond with water, ice and other material. In 2015, an extreme flooding event wiped out stretches of the Dalton Highway and the TAPS right of way. It was so powerful, it exposed buried TAPS mainline and the fuel gas line in numerous locations. At PLMP 18, the flooding exposed and scoured mainline pipe that was buried nearly 10 feet deep.

Following the flood, the pipe needed inspection. Over the following year, plans and even an attempt to reach it were unsuccessful due to massive volumes of water, rough weather and hazardous safety factors.

Clearly, conventional excavation and dewatering techniques would not work here.

A geotechnical survey by Shannon & Wilson noted three huge water sources moving millions of gallons around the area every day: surface water in a fish stream; a bulb of water around the warm TAPS line; and an aquifer seemingly everywhere. These aren’t ideal factors for creating a dry trench that needs to be 15-17 feet deep, and long and wide enough to allow safe working conditions.

A variety of plans were considered: Perhaps divers could reach it? Ultimately, a group decided on a brand new approach for TAPS: drive 40-foot steel sheet pilings into the ground beside the pipeline, creating walls to allow excavation while blocking water and providing safety. Before that work could begin, though, a series of other difficult tasks had to be handled: a pad expansion built to support drilling and crane operations; six 30-plus-feet deep dewatering wells drilled; settling ponds constructed; water pumps placed; 36-inch culverts installed to maintain fish passage; and more than 10 permits and amendments obtained.

"We were really cautious," explained Patty Miller, the project lead from Alyeska Engineering and Projects. "We checked and double-checked everything before we started."

Work execution would start in September, when the Sag River and area's water table is at its lowest, and continue into November. Unpredictable weather could play a factor, but that's the risk of working in the fall and early winter in the Arctic.

***

Turns out, the weather mostly cooperated – hardcore winds stopped work for only a few days. The water volume, as predicted, was immense. Four million gallons per day was discharged, totaling 127 million gallons over the course of the work.

Alyeska's Dave Schmidt provided perspective: "The volume of water discharged would have filled more than 100 Olympic-size swimming pools and there would have been enough extra water to fill all the hot tubs in California."

But the plan, pools, pumps, piles and people worked. The effort was virtually seamless, totally safe and environmentally sound.

"We were pumping absolutely crystal clear drinking water," said Fowler of Athna. "That's pretty unique for a mainline excavation."

Planning, teamwork and high-quality work were keys to the success. Alyeska's Miller oversaw the project with the help of Hawk construction managers; Shannon & Wilson, Coffman Engineers, Mark Anderson Engineering and Alyeska staff developed the engineering package; Athna was the primary implementation contractor, providing a wide variety of work, support and leadership; subcontractors GF Back and Precision Crane led the wells and pilings work; Merrick provided onsite locates and delineations while Shannon & Wilson returned for additional refinements; TEAM Industrial handled inspections; Houston Contracting Company provided electrical work on the water pumps; and numerous Alyeska teams played essential roles – Right of Way, Environment, Safety, Risk Integrity Management, Project Controls, Supply Chain (Materials, Transportation and Facilities, Contracts), Legal, pump station staff and more.

"And it really did take all of us to get it done right," said Kate Montgomery, Alyeska's Pump Station 1-4 Environment Coordinator.

Even with all that planning and talent, the condition of the pipe remained the ultimate unknown. Upon reaching it, there was a collective sigh of relief.

There was some tape damage and three minor mechanical repairs required, but "it was very, very minor," said Rich Staley, Hawk Construction Manager.

After the pipe work, Athna tied a bow on the project – carefully and skillfully backfilling the site, demobilizing the ponds and repairing the right of way.

"We buried the pipe and put the site back to better than new condition," said Athna's Fowler.

***

"I am proud to have been a part of this project," Miller said. "There were many challenges, but with a great team of people focused and working collaboratively, things turned out well."

Montgomery added, "It really was pretty amazing. This was one of the most challenging digs around."

The individuals being recognized with this Atigun Award are: Ahtna's Ryan Ackels, Brandon Ante, Bret Bradley, Darryl Deacon, Jaysen Ewan, Jim Fowler, Anthony Giovanni, Harry John, Steve Parker, Brian Pitcher, Frederico Salinas-Johns, Mark Still, Carl Weed, Lynette Woellert, Doug Rock, Stewart Lord, Jon Burns, Joshua Bartholomew, James McKay and Chris Vaden; Hawk Consultants' Rich Staley, Arnold Bell Lincoln and Larry Ladd; Merrick's Larry Sinyon, Robert Johnson, Andrew Garrett, Travis Cronin and Patrick Toms; Precision Crane's Thomas Gillen and Jimmy Blevins; Shannon & Wilson's Paul Van Horne; TEAM Industrial Services' Grant Harpstrieth and Norm Daneri; Alyeska's Peter Nagel, Kate Montgomery, Cathy Girard, Kalu Kalu, Patricia Miller, Shaune O'Neil and Jim Criner (retired); and GF Back's Gerald Back, Tadd Hartford, Michael O'Brien, Dorran Masters and Andrew Gingrich. 

When a gas leak rose unexpectedly last winter at Pump Station 1, personnel were immediately on edge.

Careful monitoring found gas venting into the Compressor Building vestibule through a concrete seam between foundation slabs; and it was slowly expanding in greater amounts over a wider area. Gas fumes and the accompanying stench of mercaptan (a harmless but stinky additive that indicates leaking gas) wafted into the PS1 Control Room and adjoining hallways. Crews opened doors and set up temporary heating and ventilation equipment to purge gas during the cold North Slope November.

Concerns mounted – the leak could worsen and disrupt gas delivery around PS1. The fuel gas arriving from BP operating fields powers the station's turbines, blankets the crude oil storage tanks to safely exclude oxygen from the tank vapor space, fires the massive flare, and heats buildings. It also travels beyond PS1 in the TAPS Fuel Gas Line, providing fuel for a variety of heating, operations, communications and safety purposes at PS2, PS3 and PS4.

Gas cannot simply be turned off for long at PS1 and there was no easy fix for this leak, either. After leaving the PS1 Gas Building, fuel gas weaves around PS1 in hundreds of feet of underground legacy piping.

A unique solution had to be developed quickly and executed efficiently. Three TAPS workers – Alyeska's Jerry Vekved and Houston Contracting Company's Daymon Proctor and Billy Holmes – sprang into action. Tapping their PS1 familiarity, projects experience and connections from Prudhoe Bay, Fairbanks and Anchorage, they led a fast fix without disrupting operations at the most critical and complicated station on TAPS.

For their vision, hustle, organization and leadership on the large collaborative effort, the trio is being recognized with a 2017 Atigun Award for Health and Safety, which celebrates achievements in health and safety of people and property, including process and operational safety.

Vekved said, in a sentiment echoed by Proctor and Holmes, that "it's great to be recognized and I'd really like to extend that recognition to all of the folks who helped, from Engineering and the OCC in Anchorage to onsite Houston folks and pump station personnel to the Fab Shop in Fairbanks and everyone else."

Locating, planning, designing, acting

Shortly after the leak was detected, Vekved, Alyeska O&M Mechanical Engineer, Holmes, a Project Engineer, and Proctor, a Mechanical General Foreman, dug into old Fluor legacy drawings and pinned down the likely leak location.

Vekved acted as the single point of contact as engineers from Anchorage joined onsite staff to brainstorm a temporary solution. Holmes offered his experience from orchestrating construction and shutdown cutover projects to vet the ideas and weigh in on safety and ease-of-installation factors.

Meanwhile, Proctor collaborated on fix ideas while his team started listing and locating materials – more than 1,000 feet of two-inch high-pressure hose and steel piping, and a variety of pipe spools, valves and fittings. Proctor knew what was already onsite, what was in Fairbanks and what still had to be found, fabricated, tested and X-rayed at PS1 or in Fairbanks.

After less than a week, a two-part plan was in place and the required equipment, components and material were pressure-tested and staged.

Part one: Create two parallel temporary gas lines of high-pressure hose, more than 500-feet apiece, to bypass the damaged line and then cutover from the old damaged gas line, all while keeping the area’s facilities and components warm and safe.

And do it all in one day.

"If you turn the gas off here, you'd better be quick to turn it over to something else," Vekved said.

As the OCC and TAPS producers tightly controlled the tanks' oil levels, a backup electrical feed started powering the station and Tioga space heaters warmed buildings. The gas was turned off and the fix began.

Proctor's team had already connected some of the hose and piping. Teams working upstream and downstream from the leak cut into the old pipe, purged it of remaining gas and plugged it. Then, hoses were connected to both ends, bypassing the leak.

In an extremely expedient half-shift, the station's gas was safely flowing again.

"We turned it on and spent a few hours walking the line – there were no leaks, the new piping was good," Proctor said. "For us, it was kind of like day-to-day operations. There's a pretty special working relationship between everyone at Pump 1. That's why everyone jumps in on something like this."

Holmes added, "It was a very simple cutover, really, just in a compressed format. Business as usual up here."

From temporary fix to permanent solution

In the weeks that followed, part two of the plan was executed: the hose runs were replaced with a temporary run of steel piping; pipe spools fabricated in Fairbanks and trucked to PS1 were installed, with the ends field-fitted to the temporary hose manifolds. Final bolt-up of the pipe ends took place during another short-duration cutover, and hoses were removed after restart.

The piping system held strong and is still in use today. Coincidentally, before the leak, a project was already scheduled for summer 2017 to replace and bypass the old underground fuel gas piping with new, easier-to-access above-ground piping. That project now takes on added importance as it will replace the temporary fix.

"The timing of the event itself was fortunate because there were folks around here who already had a lot of familiarity of the old piping," Vekved said. "We stole heavily from that job and its progress to date to work our fix."

Vekved then added, with a laugh, "I guess that old piping just didn’t see eye to eye with our schedule."

You can gather a lot of data, procedures, information and institutional knowledge from 40 years of pipeline operations. You can also collect even more way-we’ve-always-done-its, way-we-should-be-doing-its, bright ideas, not-so-bright ideas and varied opinions, informed or otherwise.

Last year, a diverse and talented group of TAPS experts was told to forget everything it knew about operations – albeit briefly. Then the group huddled to examine a question older than the pipeline: What is the minimum safe winter flow temperature on TAPS?

For the past 10-plus years, that answer was 40 degrees. This group was charged to re-examine that conclusion and then either confirm 40 degrees was the right answer or present and prove a new optimal temperature. Over four months, they dug into data, scoured science, delved into Alaska’s harshest temperatures and working conditions, and even fought their own operational beliefs and departmental principles. The team landed on an answer that addressed safety and risk, protected resources (personnel, financial and equipment), changed how Alyeska views winter flow temperatures and cold-weather operations, and ultimately reimagined the way Alyeska tackles big-picture problems and questions.

For their vision, determination and collaboration, a group of 11 current and former Alyeska employees are recognized with the 2017 Atigun Award for Innovation. The recipients are Rob Annett, Jim Hoppenworth, Andrea Metcalf, Dave Roberts, Klint VanWingerden, Lindsey Vorachek, Joe Howell, Mike Malvick, Tom Marchesani, Gregg Knutsen and Cliff Dolchok.

"This team overcame perceptions, the norms, if you will, and opinions from years of conservatism that we had built up as a company," VanWingerden said.

"We tore it all down, reconstructed it and stacked hands at the end because we were all in it together," added Annett, Appraise Engineering Manager. "While it was really hard work, the easy thing to do would have been to leave everything the same and risk not knowing how safe or unsafe we really are."

***

The answer: 37 degrees. The team with representatives from Operations, Oil Movements, Engineering, Risk and Flow Assurance processed 40 years of TAPS throughput and operations interruptions data; looked at historic weather lows and conditions along the TAPS route; and then tested the information with intense modeling and funneled it through rigorous risk analysis.

"We had some of the same worries and some very different worries – there was definitely some technical tension – but we were also well-informed and everyone was given time to digest it all and provide their perspective," Annett said. "All of that modeling of scenarios drove us to a new number. And it was better than staying at a very conservative, one-dimensional number."

They found that 40 degrees sat in a range that Annett calls "no man's land." Basically, this means that there was very little risk difference from operating at 40 degrees and operating anywhere between 32 and 48 degrees.

"We trust in the company's risk matrix and being able to look at details and data objectively," VanWingerden said. "And we saw that we weren't getting the value that we thought we were at the 40 degree target. Essentially, we were spending money without getting a corresponding benefit targeting this temperature."

Of course, 37 degrees is also in no man's land. But, Annett said, "TAPS is a beast: you can't turn a dial like a thermostat in your home and have TAPS temperatures suddenly increase."

So the team made a risk-informed decision; 37 degrees provided a buffer of five degrees above the risk tipping point (32 degrees) and allowed adequate time to add heat to TAPS, if needed.

In December, Alyeska's OCC officially changed its cold weather operations procedure. Over the rest of the winter, there were times that the flow temperature dipped below 40 but stayed above 37. In the past, Alyeska would have activated various heat sources along TAPS to keep the temperature at 40. But in this winter's occasions, operations continued unchanged.

What difference does those three degrees make?

"By lowering the target operating temperature, we were saving dollars that can be applied to more effective mitigations that directly impact our operating risk," VanWingerden said.

Annett added, "And it saves money in fuel and operating costs, as well as wear and tear on equipment, while lowering risk to the people attending to the equipment because it's not running." 

The work to determine this three-degree difference also shifted Alyeska 180-degrees on how it will analyze and answer big questions moving into the next 40 years of TAPS operations.

"The effort highlights a culture change that is happening within the company,” explained VanWingerden. "I have seen a shift that we're becoming more flexible and nimble with change and adopting that change."

Annett added: "This was super-rewarding. We were able to go to leadership and Owners with data and confidence about a decision that provided a financial efficiency and broadened the understanding of TAPS. This is how you land at risk-informed, data-informed decisions. I really got a kick out of the collaboration." 

Few employees understand the line-wide scope of TAPS' massive infrastructure – and all of the large and small parts in between – as well as Jerry DeHaas, Senior Discipline Engineer Advisor.

And when DeHaas needs help with a tiny piece of the puzzle or support for a full-on project, he often looks to a trusted service provider far from the TAPS route: GLM Energy Services in Kenai.

"They provide the complete gamut of rotating equipment services related to our repair work," DeHaas said. "And they're really good at what they do."

For their high-quality work and close-knit partnership with Alyeska and many TAPS contractors, GLM Energy Services was recently named the 2017 Atigun Award Contractor-Partner of the Year. This was the first year the award was given.

For more than 30 years, GLM has offered service and repair support to industrial companies, and specifically oil and gas companies. Their clients stretch across Alaska, the Continental U.S. and around the world. Today, GLM employs 40 staff who mostly operate out of two world-class facilities covering 35,000 square feet.

They sell complete products and parts and perform disassembles, inspections, rebuilds, overhauls, reverse engineering and special machining and special repairs, among many other services.

"Whatever we need, whenever we need it, they just continue to come through for us," explained Pam Chenier, Alyeska's Purchasing Supervisor.

"It's a big honor for GLM to receive the first-ever Atigun Award to recognize a contractor partnership," said Tony Brough, GLM's Director of Business Development.

"It just reinforces our commitment to our customers and the timely delivery of high quality services at reasonable prices," Brough added. "And it shows the importance of our relationship with Alyeska."

GLM is a serious statewide success story while something of an Alaska anomaly. Its staff provides a combination of services, machinery, parts, craftsmanship and urgent response that no single Alaska-based company does.

From Pump Station 1 to Valdez, when a repair or replacement is required on TAPS, it often needs to happen urgently, if not ASAP. Alyeska staff says that’s where GLM shines.

Without GLM, some of the unique and major machinery like gas turbines, safety and control valves, engines and other accessories would have to be sent overseas for repair or replacement. And then there are the seemingly countless, assorted and heavily-used generators, motors, pumps and compressors used on TAPS that require regular maintenance and occasional repairs.

"Whether it's a pump or gearbox from the '70s, a diesel generator from the '80s or state-of-the-art power generating equipment, they have the technical expertise, drive and facility to repair the item and help us keep the oil flowing," Chenier said.

Brough added, "The key to GLM’s success is offering in-state support. Alaska's oil and gas customers were isolated in terms of support. GLM saw that opportunity and we’ve remained highly focused on our Alaska-based companies. … With Alyeska, we even team up to co-develop replacement parts that help reduce repair risk and net cost. This really is a unique partnership.”

Alyeska and four employees were recognized recently at the 2016 Regional Director's Excellence Awards by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Alaska Region. Alyeska and employees Stacia Miller, Ken Wilson, Earl Rose and William Roach received the Outstanding Partner Award for their strong collaboration with USFWS and Alyeska's Oil Spill Response Program for wildlife.

USFWS is the federal agency mandated to enforce the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other widely encompassing regulations. The awards are unique because recipients are chosen by peers. Dr. Lori Verbrugge, the Regional Environmental Contaminants Coordinator at USFWS, was moved by the strong working relationship and collaboration between departments at Alyeska and their willingness to share knowledge with other agencies.

"Along with the work that the Alyeska team does within their own organization, they are true partners working together on response plans," Verbrugge said. "It's not just checking boxes and following federal regulation for these four individuals. They have a true passion for Alaska’s environment and future."

Verbrugge added that she "was inspired after I saw the modular Sea Otter Hospital being set up during a drill in Valdez. When they first told me about it being built out of Conexes, I had my concerns of the quality and maintenance of the structure, but it was in perfect condition."

Each recipient of the Outstanding Partner Award used their individual talents to accomplish the high level of preparedness that the USFWS recognized. Their activities include the maintenance of equipment, contractual relationships with experienced wildlife responders, and training field responders and offering field exercises from their wildlife plans.

Recent examples include:
• Wildlife & Non-mechanical Response Coordinator Miller updated and refreshed each of the 16 Conexes that comprise the Sea Otter Hospital. She and Wilson, Natural Resources SME, work closely with USFWS annually to modify wildlife response forms by applying lessons learned from the field to each revision.

• Wilson has also been a resource to Fish & Wildlife during response drills, as he has had multiple years of experience and served as a mentor to agency and industry representatives.

• Oil Spill Coordinator Rose shared his expertise at fast river spill response by contributing his time to teach a module at the Department of Interior’s Inland Oils Spill Response course in Anchorage.

• IMT and Exercise Coordinator Roach has used his expertise and experience in designing exercises to develop wildlife taskforce deployments and incorporate them into Alyeska's drill and exercise program, while also facilitating agency involvement at each stage of the design and evaluation.

After the award ceremony, Wilson said it truly takes a team effort to accomplish environmental stewardship in Alaska.

"There is something in our current culture that has allowed people to feel empowered to 'do the right thing,'" he said. "It is really great when outside entities, not to mention a federal regulatory/enforcement agency, recognize something that's right about our culture. Forming partnerships is a win for us and for other organizations. No single entity has all the resources and knowledge to attain a high level of preparedness and environmental stewardship. It takes public and private organizations working together to create the right solutions for Alaska."

In accepting the award, Wilson acknowledged the partnership and the professionalism of the USFWS employees that have contributed to Alyeska’s success.

"The recognition of the collaborative relationship between organizations brings into focus the efforts of both parties to get to where we are," he said.

Alyeska Senior Environmental Manager Jan Shifflett added: "This is a significant achievement by SERVS Operations, VMT, OSCP managers Lorena Hegdal and Martin Parsons, several Environment folks, and others. This is an award that is generated from within USFWS, not by an external nomination process. It shows the level of expertise and proactivity in Alyeska among these teams and the collaboration, trust, and mutual respect between Alyeska and this important regulatory agency."  

Fifteen interns with Alaska roots have joined Alyeska to develop work experience and sharpen professional skills in the 2017 Summer Internship Program.

Interns will spend the summer working in Anchorage, Fairbanks, at the Valdez Terminal and pump stations along TAPS. As they approach the end of summer, each student will showcase the development of their projects during a set of final presentations.

"Summer 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," said Lisa Booth, Alyeska's Alaska Native Program Director. "The internship program also infuses new talent across the organization, from Pump Station 1 to the VMT. Students gain meaningful work experiences that introduce interns to what a career on TAPS would be like."

Four returning participants will continue applying what they learned last year to new projects, furthering their experience and knowledge of TAPS. Two siblings, Jonathan and Patrick Lovell, have also been accepted into this year"s internship program.

This summer's interns are:
• Brandon Bachman of Anchorage, a computer systems engineering student at UAA who will work in the IT Department in Anchorage
• Sydney Belz of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at UAF who will work in the Engineering Standards & Programs Department in Anchorage
• Lauren Cole of Anchorage, a business analytics/computer science student at the University of Vermont who will work in the IT Department in Anchorage
• Dustin Cook of Palmer, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in O&M Engineering in Valdez
• Bradley Cruickshanks of Eagle River, an MS civil engineering student at UAA who will work in O&M Engineering in Valdez
• Kristofer Don of Palmer, a process technology/instrumentation student at UAF who will work in Pipeline Operations at PS1
• Christopher Feero of Anchorage, a process technology student at UAA who will be work in Pipeline Operations at PS9
• Tyler Henricksen of Anchorage, a mechanical engineering student at UAA who will work in Engineering Standards & Programs in Anchorage
• Cory LePore Jr. of Bethel, an economics student at UAF who will work in Supply Chain Management in Anchorage
• Jonathon Lovell of Fairbanks, a mechanical engineering student at UAF who will work in the Civil Integrity Department in Fairbanks
• Patrick Jace Lovell of Anchorage, an MS project management student at UAA who will work in Projects in Anchorage
• Rachel MacDonald of Valdez, a process technology student at Kenai Peninsula College who will work in VMT Ballast Water Treatment
• Tara McGrogan of Fairbanks, a recent MBA graduate from UAF will work in Corporate Communications in Anchorage
• Martin D. Parsons of Valdez, a recent instrumentation/process technology graduate from UAF who will work in VMT Power Vapor
• Cole Phillips of Valdez, an instrumentation technology student at Idaho State University who will work in I&E in Valdez

Alyeska's summer internship period runs through the end of September. Recruitment for 2018 internships begins September 18, 2017. For more information about Alyeska internship opportunities, please contact Lisa Booth at (907) 787-8640 or visit www.alyeska-pipe.com/Employment/InternshipsDevelopmentOpportunities.

This message from Alyeska President Tom Barrett opens the new 2016 Alyeska Sustainability report.

Lisa Booth is the new Alaska Native Program Director for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

Lisa is an 18-year APSC employee and Alaska Native who first joined Alyeska through the internship program. Lisa said she is especially proud to take over the Alaska Native Program because it played a personally meaningful role in her career, and the careers of many other Alaska Native company employees.

"This role is about more than running a program; it's about giving back and supporting opportunities and development for others, and I'm passionate about the value in that," Lisa said. "I have seen firsthand how our Alaska Native Program builds on relationships and cultural foundations to achieve amazing business results, while growing and supporting really talented employees who care deeply about Alaska's future."

Lisa's Alaska Native roots run deep: she grew up in Metlakatla, and is Tsimshian, Yupik and Alutiiq. Her parents and maternal family still live in Metlakatla, while her father is originally from Bethel and her maternal grandfather is from Ninilchik.

Lisa joined Alyeska in December 1999 as an intern through the Building Foundations for Excellence Program, working as a contract administrator. Since then, she has held positions of increasing responsibility in Business Planning, IT, HR, and Supply Chain Management and most recently as Business and Strategic Planning Director. Lisa has also served on the Alaska Native Program’s Advisory Board for several years.

"I'm excited to lead a high-functioning program with a proven track record of hiring, training, developing and retaining Alaska Native people," she said. "One of my goals is to fully integrate the various components of the program to ensure we are meeting and exceeding the requirements of the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement and working effectively with partners such as ANSEP, Alaska Native Corporations and TAPS contractors."

Alyeska's Alaska Native Program was created in October 1995. Through the program, Alyeska supports recruitment, employment, mentoring, education and training opportunities for Alaska Native People. The program helps fulfill commitments embodied in the TAPS Federal Agreement and Grant of Right-of-Way.

"Lisa brings a rich and unique background to this role," said Tom Barrett, Alyeska President. "She has demonstrated excellent leadership at Alyeska, she is passionate about the value and culture the Alaska Native Program brings to our company and community, and I look forward to working with her as we continue to build on the program's strong legacy."

Lisa has a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Master's of Business Administration in Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Hillary Schaefer has been selected as Alyeska's new Senior Director for Pipeline Operations & Maintenance.

Hillary began work with TAPS in 1999. Most of those years were spent in roles in the field and at pump stations; work in recent years deepened Hillary's knowledge of the inner workings of pipeline operations and Alyeska's core business functions.

"Hillary has built a reputation as a leader who collaborates across workgroups, utilizing unique strengths to achieve the best possible outcome," said Rod Hanson, VP Operations & Maintenance. "She actively participates in creating a system view by drawing on her diverse experience on TAPS, using every opportunity to leverage resources and share knowledge. She has demonstrated exemplary leadership and decision-making acumen during crises, shutdown projects and everyday operation of TAPS."

Hillary joined Alyeska as an Environmental Coordinator. Since then, she has held positions of increasing responsibility and visibility, including Pipeline & Civil Maintenance Coordinator, Response Base Supervisor, Pump Station O&M Supervisor, and Pipeline Area Manager accountable for safe operations, effective maintenance, and emergency preparedness.

"The Pipeline Operations and Maintenance team has reached remarkable milestones, and I attribute that to both O&M leadership and line-wide teamwork," Hillary said. "I am thrilled about this opportunity to lead pipeline operations as we turn the corner on 40 years of moving oil safely and reliably for Alaska."

Prior to Alyeska, Hillary spent five years working for environmental consulting firms in the Fairbanks area. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Health from Colorado State University and has successfully completed numerous additional leadership training opportunities while at Alyeska. Hillary also has extensive experience in Incident Command System (ICS) processes, having served as On-scene Commander, Ops Section Chief, Deputy Incident Commander and Incident Commander on numerous actual responses and drills.

She will assume full responsibilities of this role on April 26, coinciding with John Baldridge's retirement and last day in the position.

"Please join me in congratulating Hillary on her new role and provide her with your full support as she assumes the responsibilities," Rod said. "Please also join me in once again congratulating John Baldridge on his 40 years of TAPS service and an outstanding record of strong leadership as he moves into a well-deserved retirement."

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company has selected 2017 Atigun Award recipients, honoring employees, contractors and teams who truly “go the extra mile (801).” Alyeska President Tom Barrett also named a TAPS Professional of the Year, the TAPS Engineer of the Year, a Contractor-Partner of the Year, and a Lifetime Achievement award recipient.

"It is always exciting to recognize the outstanding contributions of Atigun Award recipients and nominees," Barrett said. "As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of TAPS operations, we know it will be the inspired and innovative efforts of people like this year’s recipients and nominees that sustain TAPS into the future. Please join me in congratulating them."

The 2017 Atigun Awards are for 2016 performance and recognize excellence in the company values of environment, health and safety, innovation, integrity and teamwork. The recipients and honorable mentions are: 

Environment: Recognizing achievements in environmental protection, habitat enhancement, regulatory compliance or pollution prevention.

• MP 18 mainline investigation team. Cross-functional teams installed sheet piles and dewatering wells to creatively and safely manage discharge of more than 127 million gallons of water for a particularly challenging and successful MP 18 mainline investigation. (Atigun Award)

• Right of Way Baseline team. This large, always very busy team demonstrated exemplary spill prevention work and exceptional environmental stewardship. (Honorable Mention)

Health and Safety: Recognizing achievements in health and safety of people and property, including process and operational safety.

• Pump Station 1 gas leak repair team. TAPS workers utilized a highly creative solution to quickly mitigate a below ground natural gas leak at PS1 in the middle of winter. Their actions aligned with sound design and safe-work controls, even though time was very limited. (Atigun Award)

• Tanker mooring line handling improvements. A cross-functional group developed an operational enhancement that eliminated line boat hazards and improved safety and cost efficiency. (Honorable Mention)

Innovation: Leveraging knowledge and creativity to continuously improve operations and efficiency.

• Winter operating temperature team. Based on extensive risk analysis and improved understanding of TAPS system heating requirements, the team enabled reduction of winter flow temperature from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 37, safely managing risks while reducing costs. (Atigun Award)

• Temporal and spatial 3D modeling of TAPS aboveground pipe. This new modeling approach applied cutting-edge technologies to identify cost-effective solutions to soil movement issues that TAPS faces. (Honorable Mention)

Integrity: Demonstrating commitment to the highest ethical standards. Recognizing achievements in meeting commitments to protect the operating integrity of TAPS and the integrity of APSC business practices.

• Rachel Baker-Sears, Project Compliance and Admin Lead. Recognized for leadership in creating proactive and innovative processes that reduce risk, ensuring compliance and keeping her group and their work efficient. (Atigun Award) 

Teamwork: Applying shared responsibility for Alyeska’s mission and resources entrusted to us.

• Pump Station 1 flare tip replacement project (G014). A diverse group of TAPS workers safely and very efficiently replaced this critical safety system under challenging conditions and a tight timeline. (Atigun Award)

• Electrical power maintenance and testing team (POWER Team). This group drove multiple improvements to ensure that TAPS power systems are safer, more reliable and more efficient than ever. (Honorable Mention)

The 2017 President’s Awards recipients are:

• TAPS Professional of the Year: Geneva Walters, Development Manager
• TAPS Engineer of the Year: Alan Beckett, Mechanical Integrity Manager
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Duke, Measurement Technician
• Contractor-Partner of the Year: GLM Corporation