NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-018

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY: REEVALUATE THE GROUND STABILIZATION IN ALL AREAS WHERE THE PIPELINE IS BURIED WITHOUT INSULATION IN BEDROCK OR GROUND CONSIDERED TO BE THAW STABILIZED. TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION WHERE GROUND MOVEMENT HAS OCCURRED DUE TO THAWING. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-07-13

Adopted Date: 1979-07-13

Overall Date Closed: 1988-03-14

Synopsis: ON JUNE 10, 1979, THE PILOT OF A HELICOPTER REPORTED SIGHTING OIL ON THE SURFACE OF THE ATIGUN RIVER NEAR THE ROUTE OF THE ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY'S 48-INCH CRUDE OIL PIPELINE. THE OIL WAS SEEN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ATIGUN PASS, 166 MILES SOUTH OF THE PIPELINE TERMINAL AT PRUDHOE BAY, ALASKA. ALYESKA WAS NOTIFIED AND BEGAN SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES AT 9 A.M. BY 9:28 A.M. THE NORTH SECTION OF THE LINE BETWEEN PUMP STATIONS NOS. 1 AND 4 WAS SHUT DOWN. BY 10:46 A.M. THE ENTIRE LINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN. THE PIPE BETWEEN PUMP STATIONS NOS. 4 AND 5 WAS DRAINED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA79FP018

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-03-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-08-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY LTR: THIS RECOMMENDA TION IS ADDRESSED IN THE RESPONSE FOR P-79-16, AS FOLLOWS. THE CURVATURE PIG WAS LAUNCHD FROM PUMP STATION NO. 1 ON JULY 29, 1979. THE RESULTS OF THIS RUN WILL BE ANALYZED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OTHER INVESTI GATIONS THAT ARE UNDERWAY INCLUDE: (A) GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF OBSERVED SURFACE SETTLEMENT SITES; (B) CORROSION PIG SURVEY FOR INDICATION OF UNSCHEDULED BENDS; (C) FIELD INVESTIGATION OF AREAS INDICATING LARGE OVALITIES ON SHARP SIGNALS FROM THE KALIPER PIG RUNS; (D) CORRELATION OF THE ABOVE TESTS AND INVESTIGATIONS; AND (E) DETALED EXAMINATION OF CURVATURE PIG DATA AT LOCATIONS OF CONCERN SHOWN BY THE ABOVE CORRELATION OF DATA.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NO RESPONSE--FOLLOWUP LETTER.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-11-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALYESKA'S PIPELINE STABILITY MONITORING PROGRAM WHICH PRO VIDES FOR LINE-WIDE SURVEILLANCE HAS, SINCE ITS INSTITUTION IN 1979, IDENTIFIED 12 SPECIFIC AREAS OF PIPELINE SUBSI DENCE, EACH OF WHICH WAS SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING SUBSIDENCE AND NO LEAKS HAVE OCCURRED FROM THE PIPELINE, WHICH HAS OPERATED AT A SERVICE FACTOR EXCEEDING 99%.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-09-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence