CASE STUDY Alaska oil spill - Geography

physical problems (isolation)

No road in 1968 

physical problems (climate)

-50 degrees in winter: Problems of keeping oil flowing, and human working conditions 

physical problems (soil)

Permafrost over much of Alaska (pipeline could not go underground) 

physical problems (relief)

Pipeline had to go over three mountain ranges 

environmental concerns (wildlife)

Crosses caribou migration route 

environmental concerns (wilderness)

Crosses, or is adjacent to, National Parks and wildlife refuges 

environmental concerns (local people)

May be forced to sell their land and to move 

environmental concerns (oil spill)

Major threat 

permafrost

A permanently frozen layer of soil

attempted solutions

• Pipeline is built on stilts to avoid melting the permafrost 

• Raised to 6 meters on caribou migration routes 

• The pipeline rests on ‘sliding shoes’ which can move horizontally by 1 or 2 meters in event of earthquake

• Oil is pumped through a temperature of 80 degrees to prevent it freezing

Exxon Valdez oil spill, 1989 

• It was assumed that the ship went off course to avoid an iceberg.

• It was later discovered that the captain was drunk, and no senior officer was on the bridge at the time.

• Alyeska Pipeline Company did nothing for 12 hours (they were supposed to react to emergency within 5 hours) 

What happened after the oil spill

• Exxon Oil company took over cleaning -> worked until end of year at the eventual cost of $600 million 

• Pulled out leaving 60% of spilled oil spill in Prince William 

Effect of wildlife: 

35000 sea birds and 3000 sea-otters 

For exploration (mainly economic + social)

• Alaskans see oil as main source of jobs and wealth 

• Income of oil in Alaska has been used to build schools, hospitals and public buildings

• Income of oil in Alaska used to improve water supply and roads 

• American statesmen appreciate importance of Alaskan oil, it provides nearly 1/3 of USA’s total oil reserves 

Against (environmental) 

• Environmental groups want the fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to be protected from all forms of development 

• Some Native American groups claim they want to live in their traditional way rather than benefit from oil income 

• Real fears of major oil spillage (from pipeline breakage or tanker accident) 

Problem for land animals after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Caribou poisoned by eating seaweed and bear’s diets reduced as less as blueberries

What year was it?

1989