Building the Alaska pipeline : story of a legend : Frank Moolin

This article chronicled the events that took place during the building of the Alaska Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's Northern Coast to the Port of Valdez. In particular, it highlighted the project management led by senior project manager Frank Moolin. The oil companies officially announced their plans to begin the pipeline in February 1969. The estimated cost was $900 million, and completion was targeted for 1972. Moolin was hired by Alyeska, the company formed to design and build the pipeline. The Alaska Pipeline project was launched with little more than a goal and no clear roadmap for achieving it. Project critics claimed that it was impossible to build an 800-mile pipeline through the Alaskan wilderness using conventional methods. In addition to facing obstacles, contingency scenarios, and timetable problems, the oil companies were stopped by environmental groups and Native Alaskans who had no intention of allowing the pipeline to be built on their land. In response, oil companies wanted to lay the pipeline underground, but geologists pointed out that a large portion of Alaska rests on permafrost that cannot support any weight when it thaws. Geological testing revealed that nearly 400 miles of the pipeline had to be built above ground. In January 1974, Frank Moolin's construction crew of 20,000 people began the preparatory work. First, a supply road was built through the northern half of Alaska, from the Yukon River north of Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. By March 1975, three million tons of pipe, machinery, spare parts, fuel and food were hauled in, and the pipe-laying began. Moolin motivated his workers and kept morale high throughout the difficult building process. For two years, Moolin kept the problem-ridden project on track. Twelve pump stations had to be built so that 800 miles of pipe could be welded together 40 feet at a time. On June 20, 1977, the valves at Prudhoe Bay were opened, and the first Alaskan crude oil began to flow. The final tab on the Alaska Pipeline project was $8 billion, 10 times the original estimate. 1 fig.

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