Alaska pipeline flow has returned to normal

The trans-Alaska pipeline returned to full production on Wednesday after a series of emergency shutdowns prompted by a leaky pipe in early January.

The pipeline operator, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., said Wednesday that it is now producing 630,000 barrels of oil per day — its normal output. So far, the company has not detected any problems caused by the low temperature of the oil flowing through the line.

The company said it is still monitoring for ice buildup or other problems that may have developed in the line during the shutdowns.

The leaky pipe, buried and encased in concrete, was discovered Jan. 8 at Pump Station 1 on the North Slope. The trans-Alaska pipeline was shut down for over 100 hours in the following days — disrupting hundreds of millions of dollars of oil production — while a bypass pipe was installed.

Pump Stations 3 and 5 have similar concrete-encased pipes, and Alyeska said it plans to replace them. The company said it is deciding now whether to take interim steps with those lines before they are replaced.

The company hasn’t excavated the leaky pipe at Pump Station 1 but it was able to visually inspect a portion of the pipe after removing a coffer dam and a pipe flange. Investigators saw no holes or cracks. The company is still investigating the leak and plans a more detailed inspection.

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