Alaska is dependent on oil and gas production as a primary revenue source, both now and for the foreseeable future. The integrity of this oil and gas infrastructure must be maintained to protect Alaska’s environment and the safety of operational personnel and the general public, and to ensure uninterrupted production and revenue.  

Parts of Alaska’s complex oil and gas infrastructure have been in place since the early 1960s, and in some cases have already surpassed their original engineered lifespan.  As demonstrated in 2006, when part of Alaska’s North Slope oil production was interrupted due to corrosion, failures in any one component of the system directly impact the system as a whole.  Disruption of Alaska’s oil and gas production could directly affect national security.  

The goal of this project is to reduce the number and severity of North Slope pipeline spills by analyzing the causes of past spills and providing recommendations on spill mitigation measures.