10 years ago this week

Aug. 16, 1993

Colossal facility moves north

By Kristen Nelson

[an error occurred while processing this directive] For the Journal of Commerce

Like pieces of a gigantic puzzle, the 17,000 tons of modules fit into place within the framework of phase two of a $1.2 billion gas-handling expansion project at Prudhoe Bay.

And because they do, oil production at Prudhoe Bay will get a 50,000 barrel-a-day boost in September, as phase two becomes operational, oil company officials say.

The modules arrived at Prudhoe Bay July 29, a week ahead of schedule, on three 400-foot barges. The eight-week, 7,900-mile trip began at the assembly site in New Iberia, La.

The modules "set within an eighth of an inch tolerance with existing piping," said Mike Clendennen, construction supervisor for Arco Alaska Inc. on GHX-2.

Installation of the modules will be completed in September, said Arco spokesman Ronnie Chappell. The remainder of the modules for the GHX-2 project will be delivered in 1994.

The largest module on the 1993 Sealift, 5,397 tons, was the heaviest module ever moved on tires in the U.S., reports show. This 253-foot module, the largest ever taken to Prudhoe Bay, also set the record as the longest heavy move ever made in the world.

Site work at Prudhoe began in May 1991. The construction crew at Prudhoe peaked at 950 in March and will be down to 400 in September before increasing again over the winter in preparation for the arrival of the 1994 Sealift, Chappel said.

Aug. 16, 1993

Delay stalls Federal Express hangar

By Tim Bradner

Alaska Journal of Commerce

A potential problem with welds in prefabricated steel for the new $28 million Federal Express hangar at Anchorage International Airport could delay completion of the facility 30 to 60 days.

But the air cargo carrier should still be ready to occupy the facility by winter of 1994, at the latest, when they really need it, said officials of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.

AIDEA, the state development financing agency, is building the new facility for Federal Express, under a lease and user agreement. Work began last August and the original completion date was June 1994. Correcting the welding problem could delay that completion by one or two months, said John Olson, AIDEA deputy director for development.

It's not certain the welds are defective, Olson said.

Surveys by Testing Institute of Alaska, a local inspection firm used by the authority, showed that some welds in the steel were not done to American Welding Society standards, which were specified in the contract. The units were welded and fabricated by the supplier to AIDEA's prime contractor.

The Iowa supplier of the steel, Seco Inc., maintains the welds are fine. Seco works through its northwest distributor, Olympic Pacific Inc. of Seattle.

"We're waiting for more information from the contractor, responding to our observation on the welds. Until we get some definitive answers, the contractor is moving steel out of the way, and working around the problem," Olson said.

About one-fourth of the steel work on the outer shell of the building has been erected. Olson said it wouldn't surprise him if some repair work may have to be done on welds in the steel already erected.

-- Compiled by Ed Bennett