Incidents Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

the massive length , remoteness of pipeline make more or less impossible secure

the pipeline has @ times been damaged due sabotage, human error, maintenance failures, , natural disasters. law, alyeska required report significant oil spills regulatory authorities. exxon valdez oil spill best-known accident involving alaska oil, did not involve pipeline itself. following spill, alyeska created rapid response force paid oil companies, including exxonmobil, found liable spill.

an explosion on july 8, 1977, pump station no. 8, killed 1 worker, injured 5 others, , destroyed pump station. house of representatives committee later announced cause workers not following proper procedures, causing crude oil flow pump under repair @ time. since startup of alaska pipeline on june 20, 1977, august 15, 1977, 7 incidents , accidents have caused pipeline shut down periodically. ntsb investigated system, , made recommendations.

the largest oil spill involving main pipeline took place on february 15, 1978, when unknown individual blew 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) hole in @ steele creek, east of fairbanks. approximately 16,000 barrels (2,500 m) of oil leaked out of hole before pipeline shut down. after more 21 hours, restarted.

the steel pipe resistant gunshots , has resisted them on several occasions, on october 4, 2001, drunken gunman named daniel carson lewis shot hole weld near livengood, causing second-largest mainline oil spill in pipeline history. approximately 6,144 barrels (976.8 m) leaked pipeline; 4,238 barrels (673.8 m) recovered , reinjected pipeline. 2 acres (8,100 m) of tundra soiled , removed in cleanup. pipeline repaired , restarted more 60 hours later. lewis found guilty in december 2002 of criminal mischief, assault, drunken driving, oil pollution, , misconduct.

the pipeline built withstand earthquakes, forest fires, , other natural disasters. 2002 denali earthquake damaged of pipeline sliders designed absorb similar quakes, , caused pipeline shut down more 66 hours precaution. in 2004, wildfires overran portions of pipeline, not damaged , did not shut down.

in may 2010, as several thousands of barrels spilled pump station near fort greely during scheduled shutdown. relief valve control circuit failed during test of fire control system, , oil poured tank , overflowed onto secondary containment area.

a leak discovered on jan 8, 2011, in basement of booster pump @ pump station 1. more 80 hours, pipeline flow reduced 5 percent of normal. oil collection system put in place, , full flow resumed until pipeline again shut down while bypass installed avoid leaking section.