The Trans-Alaska Pipeline will shut down three times this summer for scheduled maintenance, starting with a planned half-day shutdown on June 15, the system’s operator said. Alyeska Pipeline Service Co, the consortium that operates the 800-mile oil line that delivers oil from the North Slope to Alyeska’s marine terminal in Valdez, said the three planned shutdowns will allow for a series of maintenance tasks. The shutdowns are expected to last between 12 and 18 hours; the final planned shutdown of the season is scheduled for July 6. Alyeska routinely conducts major maintenance work during the summer, and system shutdowns allow for several tasks to be accomplished at the same time. “Planned major maintenance plays a critical role in sustaining (the pipeline) for decades to come,” Alyeska President Tom Barrett said […]