6/10/06 - The Steece Highway - from Fairbanks,AK

Panarama of Fairbanks, AK

Map showing where Trans-Alaska Pipeline goes from Prudhoe Bay, AK down to Valdez, AK

This shows how one of the "pigs" fits into the pipe. Pig is an acronym for "pipeline inspection gauges". This improves the flow of oil through the pipeline and monitors its condition. Pigs are launched and retrieved at pump stations and travel through the pipeline with the moving oil. The orange polyurethane sample here is a cleaning and flow improvement pig. Other more sophisticated pigs use magnetic fields and ultrasonic signals to detect small changes in the pipe's wall thickness and shape. Pigs are among the most important tools available for protecting the pipeline and detecting potential problems.

Pipeline

Mike standing under the Pipeline

Susan by one of the "retired pigs"

About half the Pipeline is underground. This shows one of the points where it goes underground.

Pedro Creek along the Steece Highway

Cleary Summit along the steece Highway

Chatanika River right along the Steece Highway

One of the bun areas where you can see white flowers growing in amongst the trees along Steece Highway

This is a close-up of the flowers amongst the burnt trees

Chatanika River along Steece Highway

Mike fishing 36.6 Mile Pond (yes, that is the name!!) along Steece Highway

McKay Creek along Steece Highway