trans alaska pipeline system includes trans alaska crude oil pipeline pump stations miles world largest pipeline systems commonly called alaska pipeline trans alaska pipeline pipeline pipeline referred alaska terms technically apply miles pipeline diameter inches conveys oil alaska crude oil pipeline privately owned pipeline built oil crisis caused sharp rise oil prices united_states rise exploration oil field economically feasible environmental legal political debates followed discovery oil pipeline built oil crisis provoked passage legislation designed remove legal challenges project task building pipeline address wide range difficulties stemming mainly extreme cold difficult isolated terrain construction pipeline large scale projects deal problems caused special construction techniques developed cope frozen ground project attracted tens thousands workers alaska causing atmosphere anchorage barrel oil traveled pipeline scale production began end year notable incidents oil occurred including caused sabotage maintenance failures bullet holes pipeline shipped billion barrels oil origins people alaska mined oil saturated possibly thousands years fuel heat light stayed point saw substance called pitch recognized petroleum settled operated trading posts arctic coast directed oil far north alaska east village brooks report confirmed observations officer observed similar found following world war united_states_navy converted ships coal fuel oil importance securing stable supply oil important government accordingly president established executive order series naval petroleum reserves united_states reserves areas thought rich oil set aside future drilling naval sited alaska far north south encompassed acres km2 naval petroleum reserves embroiled controversy government corruption dome scandal undertaken focused mapping identifying coal resources western portion reserve petroleum exploration eastern northern portions reserve surveys primarily pedestrian nature drilling remote sensing techniques available time surveys named geographic features areas explored including efforts summarized petroleum reserve lay dormant second world war provided impetus explore new oil prospects renewed efforts identify strategic oil assets survey bush aircraft local guides personnel multiple agencies locate reported reported initial starting funded oil exploration near foothills spread petroleum reserve worked determine extent navy suspended funding project found oil fields notably alpine oil field cost effective develop years navy suspended survey later enormously successful oil near southern alaska near resulting alaska major commercially producing oil field spurred exploration development oil natural gas fields developed success previous navy exploration petroleum reserve led petroleum engineers conclusion area alaska north surely held large amounts oil gas problems came area harsh climate estimated barrels barrels oil recovered oil field commercially viable began detailed survey work area january reports began circulating natural gas discovered discovery march drilling crew hit discovery began flowing rate barrels oil day june announced second discovery likewise producing oil similar rate wells confirmed existence new field contained billion barrels oil making largest north_america 18th largest world problem soon develop oil field ship product markets pipeline systems represent high initial cost lower operating costs pipeline length needed constructed solutions offered boeing proposed series gigantic engine tanker aircraft transport oil field boeing proposed line tanker submarines travel beneath arctic ice cap group proposed extending ice breaking oil proposed transport oil directly sent specially fitted oil tanker test feasibility transporting oil ice breaking market manhattan fitted ice breaking bow powerful engines hardened propellers successfully traveling atlantic_ocean voyage ship suffered damage cargo holds flooded wind blown ice forced manhattan change intended route smaller prince wales escorted manhattan successfully summer concept considered risky pipeline viable system transporting oil nearest port free pack ice miles away forming february sailed east_coast starting point unincorporated joint group created october asked permission interior begin geological engineering studies proposed oil pipeline route alaska feasibility studies began oil companies chosen approximate route pipeline permission given teams engineers began drilling core samples surveying alaska hoped begin laying pipe september substantial orders placed steel pipeline inches diameter american company manufactured pipe specification japanese companies received million contract miles pipeline time placed million order enormous pumps needed push oil pipeline june traveled formally applied permit build oil pipeline miles public land application foot wide right way build subterranean inch centimeter pipeline including pumping stations right way requested build construction maintenance highway paralleling pipeline document pages contained information collected route stage surveying responded sending personnel analyze proposed route plan arctic expert charge concluded plan bury pipeline completely abundance route report said hot oil conveyed pipeline melt underlying causing pipeline fail support turned mud report passed appropriate committees senate approve right way proposal asked land authorized mineral act break development freeze imposed secretary interior stewart imposed freeze projects involving land claimed hopes overarching native claims settlement result fall set bypassing land freeze obtaining native villages claims portion proposed right way end september relevant villages waived right way claims secretary interior asked congress lift land freeze entire project months questioning house senate committees oversight project given authority lift land freeze ahead began issuing letters intent contractors construction haul road highway running length pipeline route construction heavy equipment prepared crews prepared work gave permission snow melted act conservation groups asked judge washington issue injunction project continuing native villages waived claims right way chosen native contractors project contractors chosen likely hire native workers april judge district_of_columbia ordered issue construction permit section project crossed claims weeks later hart heard arguments conservation groups project violated mineral act gone effect start year hart issued injunction project preventing issuing construction permit halting project tracks stopped issuing construction permit unincorporated consortium reorganized new incorporated manager charge new company began lobby strongly favor alaska native claims settlement resolve disputes pipeline right way opposition opposition construction pipeline primarily came sources groups upset pipeline cross land traditionally claimed variety native groups economic benefits directly angry saw america wilderness opposition movements launched legal campaigns halt pipeline successful preventing construction conservation objections conservation groups environmental organizations voiced opposition pipeline project introduction allowed legal grounds halt project arctic engineers raised concerns way plans subterranean pipeline showed ignorance arctic engineering particular clause requiring study alternatives clause requiring environmental impact statement turned concerns tools friends earth spring lawsuit stop project injunction project forced research summer collected material turned october draft environmental impact statement published january statement met massive criticism moment released statement amounted pages generated pages testimony evidence congressional debates end march criticisms project included effect alaska possible pollution harm animals geographic features lack engineering information element opposition report discussion alternatives proposed alternatives extension alternative route canada establishing port deemed pose environmental risks construction pipeline directly alaska opposition directed building construction maintenance highway parallel pipeline clause pipeline proposal called removal pipeline certain point provision removal road president warned oil years road remain forever argument relied slow growth plants animals far northern alaska harsh conditions short growing season testimony argued arctic trees feet tall george_washington inaugurated portion environmental debate biggest symbolic impact took place discussing pipeline impact proposed pipeline effect similar effect railroad american population north_america pipeline critics said pipeline block traditional migration routes making populations smaller making easier hunt idea exploited anti pipeline advertising notably picture carrying legally shot slogan way use example pipeline environmental effects reached peak spring draft environmental statement debated native objections set aside acres km2 natives lived area protested land theirs taken congress passed law allowing sue resulting case dragged million settlement reached following native lawsuit halt work precedent frequently mentioned debate causing pressure resolve situation quickly years taken satisfied succession bills introduced compensate statewide native claims earliest bill offered million rejected created hired justice suggested settlement include million acres km2 land payment million issue remained began lobbying favor native claims act congress order lift legal injunction pipeline construction october president richard_nixon signed alaska native claims settlement act act native groups renounce land claims exchange million million acres km2 federal land money land split village regional corporations distributed shares stock natives region village shares paid based settlement corporation profits pipeline developers important aspect clause native selected path pipeline legal issues politics oil companies fought objections pipeline construction courts congress debates pipeline environmental impact statement continued objections countered observations water pipeline diameter able jump argued pipeline alter alaska wilderness proponents pointed remnants erased years later pipeline opponents satisfied preliminary design incorporated underground raised crossings big game gravel prevent melting automatic leak detection techniques opponents including fishermen feared tanker leaks south maintained disagreement plan arguments pipeline incorporated page volume final environmental impact statement released march alaska felt statement written proponent maintained general approval pipeline construction demonstrated draft statement secretary interior rogers allowed days comment release created page document opposing impact statement document failed sway judge hart lifted injunction project august environmental groups filed injunction appealed decision october washington partially reversed hart decision appeals court said impact statement followed guidelines set follow minerals act allowed smaller pipeline right way required oil companies appealed decision april court declined hear case congressional issues appeals court having decided cover pipeline requirements oil companies began lobbying congress amend act create new law permit larger right way began hearings series bills effect march environmental opposition switched pipeline grounds fighting amendment act new bill spring summer opposition groups attempted persuade congress endorse oil pipeline railroad believed leave ground argument doomed fail best way oppose pipeline propose ineffective alternative easily defeated problem approach alternative cover ground damaging environmentally hearings house continued summer new bills amendments july amendment calling study project defeated followed victory pipeline proponents amendment alaska passed senate amendment declared pipeline project fulfilled aspects modified mineral act allow larger right way alaska pipeline vote tied required vote vice president supported amendment similar amendment passed house august oil crisis authorization act october announced oil united_states retaliation support israel war united_states imported approximately percent oil foreign sources major effect price gasoline shot upward gasoline shortages common considered americans began demanding solution problem president richard_nixon began lobbying answer nixon supported pipeline project oil crisis september released message stating pipeline priority remainder congressional session year november place weeks reaffirmed statement members congress pressure constituents created trans alaska pipeline authorization act removed legal barriers construction pipeline provided financial incentives granted right way construction act drafted rushed committee approved house november vote day senate passed nixon signed law november federal right way pipeline transportation highway granted january deal signed oil companies january allowing work start construction legal right way cleared january cold weather need hire workers construction highway meant work pipeline begin march july barrel oil reached tens thousands people worked pipeline thousands workers came alaska attracted prospect high paying jobs time rest united_states undergoing recession construction workers endured long hours cold temperatures brutal conditions difficult terrain particularly near forced workers come solutions problems faulty accusations poor quality control caused congressional investigation ultimately revealed little billion spent build miles pipeline pump stations construction effort human toll thirty contract employees died causes directly related construction figure include common carrier casualties impact construction completion immense effect alaska united_states rest world impact included economic physical social repercussions running life small towns global oil market construction pipeline caused massive economic boom towns pipeline route prior construction residents towns like recovering devastating flood strongly supported pipeline town residents endured spike crime public infrastructure influx people unfamiliar alaska customs percent said pipeline changed worse boom greater population jumped summer increase population caused adverse effects home prices home sold purchased lots land sold late 1960s went home apartment upward rising prices demand pipeline workers room log rented month bedroom home housed pipeline workers shared beds rotating schedule week apartment rented month december cost month march month plus mandatory april hotel rooms sold far away miles north prices driven high salaries paid pipeline workers eager spend money high salaries caused corresponding demand higher wages non pipeline workers alaska non pipeline businesses demand higher wages job turnover high yellow cab turnover rate percent nearby restaurant turnover rate percent positions filled high school students promoted experience level meet demand high school ran shifts morning afternoon order teach students worked hours day wages people meant higher demand goods services waiting line fact life world sales recently opened stockholm store contractors bought bulk local stores causing shortages cars tractor parts water salt batteries large sums money spent caused crime illicit activity towns pipeline route exacerbated fact police officers state resigned large groups pipeline security guards wages far excess available public sector jobs second avenue notorious prostitutes dozens bars operated town estimated prostitutes working city people prostitutes brought engaged turf fights police responded shootout automatic firearms large biggest police issue number drunken fighting pipeline major problem poor accounting record keeping allowed large numbers tools large amounts equipment stolen los_angeles_times reported yellow painted trucks missing alaska scattered miami mexico_city denied problem said trucks missing theft problem practice boxes pipeline camps boxes filled items shipped ruled packages sealed presence security guard number packages sent camps dropped percent economy alaska completion government state alaska reliant taxes paid oil producers prior alaska personal income tax rate percent highest united_states gross state product billion earned billion personal income thirty years pipeline began operating state personal income tax gross state product billion earned billion personal income alaska moved heavily state tax free state difference taxes revenue brought alaska oil companies injected dollars alaska economy construction effort years afterward addition taxes paid companies altered tax structure state years pipeline started transporting oil percent alaska revenue came directly petroleum industry series taxes levied oil production alaska changed times overall form remains alaska receives royalties oil production state land state property tax oil production structures transportation pipeline property state property tax alaska special corporate income tax petroleum companies state taxes petroleum produced production tax levied cost oil pump station tax state takes market value oil transportation costs tanker pipeline production costs resulting barrel oil produced month state takes percentage dollar figure produced latest taxation system introduced governor passed year maximum tax rate profits percent rate based cost oil lower prices lower tax rates state claims percent oil produced state royalty oil sold oil companies generating additional revenue local level pipeline owners pay property taxes portions pipeline pipeline facilities lay districts impose property tax property tax based pipeline value assessed state local property tax rate example pipeline owners paid million property taxes approximately percent property taxes paid borough enormous public revenue created pipeline provoked debates record million created oil lease sale took place time entire state budget million entire created sale taxes pipeline oil carried promised bring money state ensure oil revenue wasn spent came alaska legislature governor proposed creation long term savings account state measure required constitutional amendment duly passed november amendment requires percent mineral extraction revenue deposited february deposit deposit subsequent ones invested entirely bonds debates quickly arose style investments alaska legislature created manage investments passed permanent fund program provided annual payments interest earned fund years legal arguments eligible payments checks distributed peaking billion fund value declined approximately billion summer addition state maintains separate savings account established legal dispute pipeline generated time payment billion oil companies reserve run similar money withdrawn pay state annual budget unlike oil prices began pumping oil major immediate impact global oil prices partly took years reach production partly production outside alaska declined mid-1980s iranian revolution price increases triggered energy crisis despite production increases oil prices remained high late 1980s stable international situation removal price controls peak production contributed 1980s oil delivering percent oil production oil production declined share production today provides percent oil production social impact pipeline attracts tens thousands visitors annually pipeline tourism trips notable visitors included president king norway knight starred movies pipeline construction pipe dreams film critically panned films deadly ground days night refer pipeline use plot device pipeline inspired forms artwork notable form art unique pipeline pipeline maps portions scrap pipe cut shape alaska piece metal path pipeline map pipeline maps frequently created working pipeline maps frequently sold tourists given away gifts pipeline inspired pieces art include objects containing crude oil transported pipeline technical details oil going comes oil fields alaska bay oil field commonly associated pipeline contributes oil liberty oil fields oil emerges ground approximately time reaches pump station stretch crude oil specific gravity pipeline carried approximately thousand barrels day theoretical maximum capacity million barrels day actual maximum million barrels day pump station takes average days oil travel entire length pipeline speed miles hour minimum flow pipeline clearly defined maximum operating lower flows extend life pipeline increasing profit owners flow significantly pipeline designed low require oil slower line meaning temperature drops high flow situations freeze line block pig line force repairs engineering report stated avoid freezing need installed pump stations report noted improvements bring flow low attempt determine absolute minimum studies suggested minimum current pipeline replace pipeline pipeline use rail rest way allow little pumping stations maintain momentum oil goes pipeline pump station northernmost pump stations spread length pipeline original design called pump stations pumps pump station built pump stations retained intended naming system stations operating number increased rose december stations operating pump station held reserve pump stations capacity moving gallons minute min stations capacity gal min min pumps natural gas liquid fueled turbines thermal seismic accommodations inch diameter steel pipeline pipe stations end line miles linear distance station miles pipeline crosses major streams rivers nearly minor ones highest point pipeline feet sea level maximum grade pipeline pipeline created foot meter sections thousand sections double joint laid place line thousand field needed join double joints continuous pipeline pipe different miles inches thick remaining miles inches thick vertical support members hold sections pipeline pipeline contains end pipeline store million barrels oil eighteen storage tanks provide capacity feet tall feet diameter average given time million barrels power plants terminal generate tanker available ships addition loading oil pumping takes place filled marine terminal maintenance pipeline surveyed times day air foot road patrols place check problems leaks pipe settling shifting pipeline surveyed little hours surveys longer ensure external standard maintenance majority pipeline maintenance pipeline pigs mechanical devices sent pipeline perform variety functions common pig pig removes wax oil collects walls pipeline colder oil wax buildup buildup cause variety problems regular needed pipe clear second type pig travels pipe looks detecting pigs use magnetic sensors magnetic sensors detect analyzing variations magnetic field pipeline metal testing pigs detect examining vibrations walls pipeline types pigs look irregularities shape pipeline bending smart pigs contain variety sensors perform multiple tasks typically pigs inserted travel length pipeline july pig installed pump station near pipeline type common maintenance installation replacement subterranean portions pipeline reduce caused action affect interred sections pipeline excavation replacement required incidents pipeline times damaged sabotage human error maintenance failures natural disasters law required report significant oil regulatory authorities oil spill best known accident involving alaska oil involve pipeline following spill created rapid response force paid oil companies including found liable spill explosion july pump station killed worker injured destroyed pump station later announced cause workers following proper procedures causing crude oil flow pump repair time alaska pipeline june august seven incidents accidents caused pipeline shut periodically investigated system recommendations largest oil spill involving main pipeline took place february unknown individual blew inch centimeter hole creek east approximately barrels oil leaked hole pipeline shut hours restarted steel pipe resistant resisted occasions october drunken named shot hole near causing second largest mainline oil spill pipeline history approximately barrels leaked pipeline barrels recovered pipeline nearly acres removed cleanup pipeline repaired restarted hours later lewis found guilty december criminal assault drunken driving oil pollution misconduct pipeline built withstand earthquakes forest fires natural disasters earthquake damaged pipeline designed absorb similar caused pipeline shut hours precaution overran portions pipeline damaged shut thousands barrels pump station near scheduled relief valve control circuit failed test fire control system oil poured tank overflowed secondary area leak discovered jan basement pump pump station hours pipeline flow reduced percent normal oil collection system place flow resumed pipeline shut bypass installed avoid leaking section future pipeline decline oil production posed problem pipeline anticipated daily oil approach barrels day additional sources oil developed volumes decrease begin closing pump stations company intends close stations lower require pumping maintain momentum reports supporting drilling coastal plain maintain pipeline reach minimum operating level barrels day estimated levels ongoing exploration outside improvements allow low flow rates extend lifespan far law alaska required remove traces pipeline oil extraction complete date set removal plans updated continuously additional sources allen trans alaska pipeline vol beginning vol south seattle year journey michael bennett social impact alaska anchorage brown tom oil ice wilderness crossroads edited san_francisco happened effects alaska social impact assessment series boulder colorado bruce rush north boston pipeline status report alaska john peter lost frontier new_york survey joe alaska age petroleum big oil bought alaska inc trans alaska pipeline system washington report manning harvey cry crisis rehearsal alaska case study government oil alaska earth san_francisco joe going extremes new_york john coming country miller know financing trans alaska pipeline cleveland john elizabeth seven wonders world history new_york let freeze dark new_york john extreme conditions big oil new_york wolf dreams companies story norman oklahoma daniel prize epic quest oil money power new_york video armstrong john davis mark american experience alaska pipeline pbs season episode april world season episode august
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System