TAPS volumes up for 2nd consecutive year

Kristen Nelson

The annual volume of crude oil moving through the trans-Alaska oil pipeline has increased for the second consecutive calendar year, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. said Jan. 2.

The 2016 upturn in volume was the first since 2002, the company said.

The pipeline moved an average of 527,323 barrels per day in 2017, a total of 192,472,797 barrels. That is a 1.5 percent increase from 2016, when volumes averaged 517,868 bpd, a total of 189,539,817 barrels. The 2016 total was a 2.1 percent increase over 2015, when the pipeline carried a total of 185,582,715 barrels, 508,446 bpd. (Fiscal year volumes cited by the Alaska Department of Revenue are an average of 501,000 bpd in FY 2015, 514,700 bpd in FY 2016 and 526,500 bpd in FY 2017.)

“More oil flowing through TAPS means a safer, more efficient and more sustainable pipeline system,” said Alyeska President Tom Barrett. “Increased throughput also signals a stronger economy for Alaska and more opportunities for Alaskans.”

Alyeska celebrated its 40th anniversary of operations in 2017 and as of the close of 2017 operations had moved 17,648,210,557 barrels.

The company said the pipeline has faced escalating challenges in recent years - brought on by declining flow, slower moving oil and the potential for cooling temperatures, ice formation in the line and water and wax dropping out and accumulating. Alyeska said its teams have worked to adjust to the lower flows, adding heat, monitoring winter operating temperatures and modifying pigging operations.

“We benefit from an external business and regulatory environment that supports increased, responsible exploration and production on the North Slope and in the Arctic,” Barrett said. “North Slope operators are leveraging efficiencies and technology to increase production and discover new oilfields. All of these efforts play into increases in TAPS’ flow levels.”

- KRISTEN NELSON