An 800-mile long oil pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez turns 40 on June 10, having transported more than 17 billion barrels of oil and loaded nearly 22,000 tankers at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
In an announcement on May 8, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. said the pipeline remains a testament to the determined spirit and Alaska true grit that has written the state’s history and is fueling its future.
Over the past 40 years the pipeline has had an immense impact on the state’s economy, its communities and residents, and provided many lucrative contracts to a number of Alaska business firms.
More than half of the pipeline runs above ground, an engineering decision made due to Alaska’s prevalent permafrost terrain. TAPS’ visibility spanning Alaska has made it one of the world’s most photographed pipelines.
The pipeline traverses three mountain ranges, permafrost regions and 34 major rivers and streams. Alyeska personnel work in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Valdez, plus pump stations and response facilities all along the pipeline.
They also operate the Ship Escort/Response Vessel System for Prince William Sound.
Alyeska was created to construct, operate and maintain TAPS for owner companies, which today include BP Pipelines (Alaska), ConocoPhilips Transportation Alaska, ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., and Unocal Pipeline Co.
