Alaska oil pipeline's shaking causes concerns

[Barrett808]

Alaska oil pipeline's shaking causes concerns
By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The partial shutdown of the Prudhoe Bay oil field triggered shaking in the trans-Alaska pipeline, prompting managers and oil industry watchdogs to consider ways to stabilize the crude oil artery in times of reduced flow.

A downhill portion of the 800-mile pipeline began vibrating after BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. shut down about half of Prudhoe Bay's production in early August because of widespread pipeline corrosion and fears of oil spills.

The partial shutdown reduced oil flow in the 800,000 barrel per day trans-Alaska line to between 550,000 and 650,000 bpd for about seven weeks, according to state reports.

That created a period of shaking on the south slope of Isabel Pass, a mountainous area south of Fairbanks, said Mike Heatwole, a spokesman for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., the consortium that operates the pipeline.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061011/us_nm/energy_alaska_pipeline_dc

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. melting permafrost due to global warming?

[kineneb]

2. earthquake zones

Alaska is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, or have we forgotton the damage from the 1964 Easter earthquake?

Same problem as oil/gas pipelines in CA. Earth shifts, pipeline doesn't, equals leaks and shutdowns.

Native-born Californian. Earthquakes Are Us.
:hi:

[tanyev]

3. That doesn't sound good.

[Strelnikov_]

4. Sounds Like Cavitation

Mention of installation of a 'back-pressure' device (a.k.a valve) in the article.

[Porcupine]

5. Gonna make the "world's largest chapstick" any day now.

If that pipeline shuts down mid winter long enough for it to cool it will take years to get it started again. Luckily with Climate Change they can run tankers straight to Prudhoe Bay later and later each year.