TAPS Earthquake Sliders on Ground near Denali Fault

Bridge Design at Yukon River

TAPS Zig Zag Design

Earthqauke Monitoring System near Denali Fault

Pump Station 10

Pump Station 10 is near the site where the Alaska Earthquake Information Center collects seismic data on the Denali Fault.

AEIC Earthqauke Monitoring

AEIC Overview Part 1

Geophysical Institute

The Geophysical Institute home of the Alaska Earthquake Information Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Denali Fault Crossing

Pipeline crossing of Denali Fault shows beams embedded in a gravel berm to allow large pipe movements.

Vertical Support Member Diagram

Vertical Support Member (VSM) consist of crossbeams installed between vertical supports placed in the ground. The above ground pipe is insulated, jacketed with galvanized steel, and mounted on a Teflon-coated shoe that can slide back and forth on the VSM crossbeams.

Buried TAPS Pipeline Diagram

Pipeline buried in the standard method lies on a layer of bedding material (well drained sandy gravel without sharp rocks) covered with prepared gravel padding and soil fill material.

Buried Pipeline Diagram

Aerial Photo of TAPS Valdez Terminal

TAPS moves underground

Valdez Terminal Sign

the end of the TAPS at Valdez, Alaska

Zig Zag Diagram

To allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the aboveground pipe, the pipeline was constructed in a flexible zigzag configuration. This design allows lengthwise expansion of the pipe to be translated into sideways movement.

Pipeline construction against earthquakes as it crosses the Denali Fault.

Layout of the TAPS Valdez Marine Terminal

TAPS above ground pipe

TAPS earthquake stabilizers

TAPS bumpers

TAPS stabibizer anchor

TAPS above ground

Delta pipeline suspension bridge over the Tanana River

TAPS Pump Station Location Map

TAPS Pump Station 1

Introduction: The Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)

Summary: The Trans Alaska Pipeline was designed and constructed to move oil from the North Slope of Alaska (Mile Post 800) to Valdez, Alaska (Mile Post 0). This section of the virtual field trip will provide a short introduction to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).

Student Tasks: Watch a short video to become acquainted with the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) located above. Visit the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Website to find more about Trans Alaska Pipeline System. Review the Pipeline Facts.

Answer the following questions:
· Why was this Trans Alaska Pipeline constructed?
· Which companies own TAPS today?
· What is the length of the Trans Alaska Pipeline?
· When did construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline begin and end?
· When did the Trans Alaska Pipeline begin to pump oil and how much has it pumped since then?

Note: We have place the introduction to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) at Pump Station 1 at Mile Post 800. To take a closer look at an example of a TAPS Pump Station click on Image 1. A map illustrating the eleven pump stations located at intervals of approximately 50 to 100 miles on Trans Alaska Pipeline can be found by clicking on Image 2. These images are located in the TAPS Photos website retrieved June 23, 2008.

Introduction to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)