ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Closure of the Trans Alaska Pipeline on Saturday was only the latest incident for the 33-year-old oil artery, which carries about 12 percent of the nation's supply 800 miles (1,280 kilometres) from the Prudhoe Bay oilfield to the tanker port of Valdez.
The following is a list of previous mishaps and closures:
* Feb. 15, 1978 - Sabotage at Steele Creek near Fairbanks by an unknown person blew a hole in the line, causing about 670,000 gallons to spill (16,000 barrels).
* March 24, 1989 - Exxon Valdez oil spill, 11 million gallons spilled. Tanker had loaded at the pipeline marine terminal, operator Alyeska was faulted for poor preparation and response, and wound up paying a civil settlement.
* Oct. 4, 2001 - An intoxicated man fired a high-powered gun and shot a hole in the pipeline at Livengood, roughly halfway down the line, resulting in a release of about 250,000 gallons (6,143 barrels) onto the ground.
* Nov. 3, 2002 - Denali earthquake, magnitude 7.9. Pipeline was closed for 66 hours for inspection but no spills or damage. Pipeline determined to have responded to the earthquake as designed.
* 2007 - Fire at storage tank at Pump Station 9, about 105 miles south of Fairbanks, closed the pipeline for more than three days.
* May 25, 2010 - Electrical outage during scheduled maintenance caused crude oil to overflow at a storage tank at same pump station. About 210,000 gallons (5,000 barrels) overflowed from the tank into a lined containment area on the ground.
(Compiled by Yereth Rosen, writing by Bill Rigby, editing by Maureen Bavdek) Keywords: OIL PIPELINE/ALASKA (bill.rigby@thomsonreuters.com; +1 206 418 9236; Reuters Messaging: bill.rigby.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The following is a list of previous mishaps and closures:
* Feb. 15, 1978 - Sabotage at Steele Creek near Fairbanks by an unknown person blew a hole in the line, causing about 670,000 gallons to spill (16,000 barrels).
* March 24, 1989 - Exxon Valdez oil spill, 11 million gallons spilled. Tanker had loaded at the pipeline marine terminal, operator Alyeska was faulted for poor preparation and response, and wound up paying a civil settlement.
* Oct. 4, 2001 - An intoxicated man fired a high-powered gun and shot a hole in the pipeline at Livengood, roughly halfway down the line, resulting in a release of about 250,000 gallons (6,143 barrels) onto the ground.
* Nov. 3, 2002 - Denali earthquake, magnitude 7.9. Pipeline was closed for 66 hours for inspection but no spills or damage. Pipeline determined to have responded to the earthquake as designed.
* 2007 - Fire at storage tank at Pump Station 9, about 105 miles south of Fairbanks, closed the pipeline for more than three days.
* May 25, 2010 - Electrical outage during scheduled maintenance caused crude oil to overflow at a storage tank at same pump station. About 210,000 gallons (5,000 barrels) overflowed from the tank into a lined containment area on the ground.
(Compiled by Yereth Rosen, writing by Bill Rigby, editing by Maureen Bavdek) Keywords: OIL PIPELINE/ALASKA (bill.rigby@thomsonreuters.com; +1 206 418 9236; Reuters Messaging: bill.rigby.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2011 AFX News
