Oil Spill response and clean up generally involves deployment of personnel and equipment to contain and recover product. Seldom do response teams get involved in stopping the release of product from the source of the leak. This is due to the specialized nature of the task and the risk that is involved. However the possibility of a leak with discharge pressures of several hundred pounds is a reality on most pipelines around the world. This is due to the elevation changes as it traverses hills and valleys. There are valves to protect the line and minimize spill volume, however there is still the possibility of high static pressure after the line is shut in. This paper gives a brief review of the Trans Alaska Pipeline and changes that were made in the response plan to be able to better deal with controlling the source of a spill caused by a sabotage incident in 2001. It will give a brief description of equipment that is now used to minimize the safety risk and stop a leak quickly.
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