01.  Where are there pipelines in the Cook Inlet area?

There are pipelines in Cook Inlet from Homer to Anchorage. The pipelines that are the focus of this project – those associated with oil production operations – are concentrated in the central Inlet area on both the east and west sides as well as subsea within Cook Inlet itself.

02.  What role do the pipelines play in Cook Inlet oil production?

Cook Inlet pipelines move liquids through different parts of the oil and gas production infrastructure. These include:

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• Produced oil, gas, and water from wells to processing facilities;

• Crude oil from processing facilities to terminals, docks, or the Marathon refinery;

• Natural gas used to power production on some offshore platforms.

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Pipeline use may change over time depending on production needs. This has occurred in Cook Inlet, including transitions over time in what substance a pipeline carries. Additionally, some pipelines may be abandoned, idled, put out of service or “shut-in”.  

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In 2018, some unused pipelines were re-activated, others were put out of service, and some new pipelines were constructed.

03.  When were the pipelines installed?

Although some oil and gas exploration occurred prior to Alaska being a part of the United States, exploration and production increased substantially following discovery of offshore oil in 1962 with 14 offshore production platforms constructed by the end of that decade (ADNR, 2009). Additional platforms were installed in 1986 (Steelhead), 2000 (Osprey), and 2015 (Julius R) (cited: DeMarban, 2017).

04.  Who operates Cook Inlet pipelines?

Today, five companies operate pipelines within Cook Inlet. Those companies include Hilcorp, LLC; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Furie, LLC; Glacier Energy, LLC; and Harvest Alaska, LLC (a subsidiary of Hilcorp). BP also owns two abandoned pipelines.

05.  What changes have occurred in Cook Inlet pipelines in 2018?

In 2018, Harvest Alaska significantly updated its pipeline system to accommodate the closing of Drift River Terminal. This transition shifted the flow of oil produced on the west side of the Inlet so that it flows to the east via a re-purposed subsea pipeline between Kaloa Junction on the west side of the Inlet and Middle Ground Shoals on the east.

The Drift River Terminal stored oil produced on the west side of Cook Inlet prior to it being loaded onto tankers and taken to the refinery in Nikiski. The new pipeline configuration eliminates both oil storage at Drift River Terminal and the associated cross-Inlet tanker traffic.

06.  What is the industry doing to ensure pipeline integrity?

Pipeline operators are required to have procedures or systems in place to protect their lines from failure or detect and address problems if they occur. While these practices may vary by pipeline, they typically include:

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• “Pigging” devices run through a pipeline to clean it and detect damage or metal loss;

• Inspections done by land or aircraft to detect leaks, damage, or changes in the surrounding environment that may impact the pipeline;

• Routine inspection and maintenance on valves, relief devices, measurement devices, and other pipeline system components;

• Emergency response and oil spill response procedures and exercises;

• Public Awareness notifications;

• Using a system based on an electrical current to prevent corrosion (“cathodic protection”);

• Corrosion inhibitor coatings applied to the pipeline to reduce corrosion;

• Systems to detect whether a leak has occurred by detecting changes in pipeline flow;

• Systems used to shut down flow of a pipeline if a leak has occurred.

07.  How are Cook Inlet pipelines regulated?

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) administer and enforce pipeline safety regulations that include design, construction, operations and maintenance for the pipelines related to oil production and transportation activities.

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Regulatory requirements vary depending on what a pipeline carries, how and when it was constructed, its location, and general operations (such as flow rate) among other factors. As part of their regulatory oversight, agencies may:  

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• Require specific routes or construction specifications;

• Require mandatory compliance to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Parts 191, 192, 194, and 195 as well as state regulations under 18 AAC 75; 

• Conduct emergency response and oil spill response drills;

• Require specific standards be met, such as those set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the American Petroleum Institute, or other standard-setting body;

• Review and approve operators’ integrity management plans which document the protective and maintenance measures implemented;

• Review and approve operators’ spill response plans, including spill prevention measures as well as response if a leak occurs;

• Consider whether the pipeline traverses environmentally sensitive areas or passes close to populated areas;

• Conduct on-site inspections;

• Conduct drills and exercises to assess spill response readiness.

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Several other state and federal agencies contribute to decisions regarding pipeline siting, response planning, or an actual spill response. These are the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG), Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Some gas pipelines outside the scope of this project are overseen by the Joint Pipeline Office.  

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulates offshore pipelines outside state waters; however, these do not currently exist in Cook Inlet.

08.  What is CIRCAC doing to ensure pipeline safety?

CIRCAC reviews operators’ oil discharge prevention and contingency plans as part of an ADEC-required public comment period. These plan reviews provide the opportunity for CIRCAC staff and volunteers to understand how pipeline operators are complying with state regulations related to pipeline operations and spill response, and to identify additional information needs or protective measures. 

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