Alyeska asks to temporarily restart oil pipeline
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The operator of the trans-Alaska pipeline is asking permission to temporarily restart the flow of oil because of concerns about ice and wax building in the line while it’s shut down due to a leak.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.’s Katie Pesznecker says there is a device known as a cleaning pig in the pipeline.
She says the concern is that during a permanent restart when the oil begins moving again, the cleaning pig will push ice and wax into machinery and damage equipment. The plan is to temporarily restart the pipeline to move the pig to an area where it could be sidelined and captured. Pesznecker says a temporary restart would also warm up the oil in the pipe.
The 800-mile pipeline has been shut down since Saturday.