Why does the Alaska pipeline zigzag?

The pipeline was built in a zigzag pattern to allow the pipe to expand and contract. Because workers welded much of the pipeline at temperatures well below zero, engineers anticipated that the metal would expand once-hot oil began flowing through.

Why is the Alaska pipeline bad?

Along with the negative impacts on the surrounding fauna, roads and trains present a clear danger to the stability of migratory animals. But the biggest environmental problem with the Alaskan Pipeline is the potential for oil spills. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 is the most well-known pipeline disaster.

Is the Alaska pipeline heated?

The lines are warm to the touch and even warmer to the wallet — at current prices, about $30 million worth of crude flows through the station daily. Alyeska heats oil at Pump Station One to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with a goal of keeping it above 37 degrees by the time it reaches the export terminal at Valdez, Alaska.

What were some concerns about the construction of the Alaskan pipeline across Alaska?

Concerns were raised about earthquakes and elk migrations. The Alaskan Pipeline system’s 420-miles above ground segments are built in a zig-zag configuration to allow for expansion or contraction of the pipe.

How hot is the oil in the Alaskan pipeline?

Oil pumped from the Prudhoe Bay field, which is 10,000-to-20,000 feet deep, is about 145 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Using heat exchangers that work like a car’s radiator, the oil companies cool the oil to about 120 degrees before it enters the pipeline.

How many times has the Alaska pipeline leaked?

Trans-Alaska’s safety record: 18 oil spills in 20 years There have been 18 breaches of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the last 20 years, according to data from the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA). Spills have ranged from less than one barrel to 6,800 barrels.

Has the Alaska pipeline ever had a leak?

There have been 18 breaches of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the last 20 years, according to data from the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA). Spills have ranged from less than one barrel to 6,800 barrels.

Where does the oil from Alaska pipeline go?

About 4 out of 5 barrels of oil produced in Alaska are sent to refineries in Washington and California. About four-fifths of the oil produced in Alaska is transported by tankers to refineries in Washington and California.

Why is Alaska pipeline above ground?

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) was the world’s largest privately funded construction project when it was built, at a cost of $8 billion. More than half the pipeline runs above ground so that the hot oil does not melt the permafrost that is prevalent along the route. …

Why do pipelines have bends?

Those bends are necessary to compensate for the thermal expansion in steel pipes and are known as “Expansion loops”. These loops are also required to provide high point vent (to avoid the vapor pockets) and low point drains to ensure the drainage of fluid, when needed.

Does the Alaska pipeline freeze?

The harsh conditions and subzero temperatures of Alaska’s North Slope make pipeline outages especially perilous, with operators facing the constant risk of ice forming inside the line. In a worst-case scenario, the crude in the line can solidify into a waxlike sludge and render an entire pipeline unusable.

How long did it take to build the Alaska pipeline?

River and Stream Crossings: 34 major, nearly 500 others. Valves: 178. Work Pad, Length: 790 miles. Years Built: 1974 to 1977.

How was the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System built?

The construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System included over 800 miles (1,300 km) of oil pipeline, 12 pump stations, and a new tanker port. Built largely on permafrost during 1975–77 between Prudhoe Bay and Valdez, Alaska, the $8 billion effort required tens of thousands of people,…

How does the Alaska oil pipeline work in the winter?

The four inches of fiberglass insulation that surrounds the above-ground pipeline keeps the oil warm enough to flow even on the coldest winter days. If the pipeline had to be shut down in the winter, the oil within could sit for several months before congealing. Trans Alaska Oil pipeline traverses the snowy tundra of the arctic north slope, Alaska.

How did the Trans-Alaska Pipeline affect global oil prices?

Although the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System began pumping oil in 1977, it did not have a major immediate impact on global oil prices. This is partly because it took several years to reach full production and partly because U.S. production outside Alaska declined until the mid-1980s.

How much of the Trans Mountain Pipeline is permafrost?

Initial plans for the pipeline had the entire system buried like traditional pipelines but after taking over 15 thousand soil samples from along the projected path, it was found that 420 miles of the soil was permafrost.