Trans Alaska carrying just a quarter of its peak volume The lower the flow, the higher the risks from Arctic cold Here at the top of the world, January brought a glimpse of the anxious future facing Alaska’s once-mighty oil pipeline. The 800-mile Trans Alaska Pipeline System was built for extreme conditions. But as the state’s oil production declines, the pipeline faces a new challenge: flows so sluggish operators worry the line may become unusable, cutting off access for hundreds of North Slope oil wells. With the mercury dipping as low as -60 Fahrenheit, workers in January fired up heating units across the system. It worked, but if the brutal cold had lasted or the oil flow had slowed further, the pipeline would have been in uncharted territory. Four decades after it opened, Alaska’s pipeline — once a symbol of independence for an oil-strapped nation — is facing a […]