Alaska Oil Pipeline

Although we had an up close experience with the oil pipeline at the Air Force Base, we stopped at a wayside near Fairbanks that provided information about the pipeline, sponsored by the Alyeska Company. There’s a lot of fascinating information about this remarkable achievement. Here’s a couple highlights: The oil comes out of the ground at around 180 degrees F, and travels through the pipe at temps above 120 F. Where the pipe must be placed below ground, like at roads and avalanche prone areas, the pipe is encased in an insulated refrigerated ditch. Nearby refrigeration plants pump cold brine through 6 inch pipes which absorb heat and keep the soil cool. Another innovation associated with the pipeline is the zig-zag configuration. Since pipe can move easier above ground, the zig-zag pattern allows the pipe to move from side to side and lengthwise, keeping it from breaking.

The funny looking gizmo in the cocoon is called a “pig”. They’re devices to improve the flow of oil and monitor conditions. Pigs are launched and retrieved at pump stations and travel through the pipeline with the moving oil. The polyurethane sample in the picture is a cleaning and flow improvement pig. Other more sophisticated pigs use magnetic fields and ultrasonic signals to detect small changes in the pipes’ wall thickness and shape. They weigh about 1600 pounds! The upright 'pig' was used originally to scrape wax from the sides of the newly laid pipe. After the pipe was warmed up, these type of pigs were 'retired'.

In the refining process one barrel of oil will produce:

18 gals gas
10 gals kerosene
5 gal fuel oil
3 gal jet fuel
2 gal lube oil
2 gal chemicals
2 gal other products

One million barrels of oil flow daily from Northern Alaska (Prudhoe Bay) to Valdez!!