Trans Alaska Pipeline System reaches 19 billion barrel milestone
The 19 billionth barrel of Alaska North Slope Crude began its journey down the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) from Pump Station 1 in Prudhoe Bay at approximately 1 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
“An often-referenced quote from the TAPS construction era goes, ‘They didn’t know it couldn’t be done.’ In that spirit, this once-implausible milestone for TAPS was made reality by the proud pipeline people at Alyeska Pipeline and our contractors who operate TAPS safely and reliably,” said John Kurz, Alyeska’s President & CEO. “This moment also honors countless individuals and organizations that continue adding to the iconic infrastructure’s legacy, as well as Alaska’s residents and leaders and the state’s hardworking oil and gas industry.”
Since TAPS startup on June 20, 1977, and the subsequent departure of the first tanker from the Valdez Marine Terminal, the pipeline has transformed Alaska as it delivered the state’s core economic driver: Alaska North Slope Crude (ANSC). TAPS moved its billionth barrel on January 22, 1980. The 18 billionth barrel started down TAPS on Dec. 6, 2019. Since startup, ANSC transported by TAPS has generated an estimated $180 billion in revenue to the State of Alaska.
Other recent TAPS milestones include: the 48th anniversary of TAPS operations in June 2025; and Alyeska hosting the U.S. Dept. of the Interior Secretary, the U.S. Dept. of Energy Secretary, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator at Pump Station 1 in June – they were joined by nearly 200 others, including Alyeska staff and executives, state and national political leaders, global oil and gas representatives, and media.
“As we celebrate this operational landmark and look forward to the 50th anniversary of TAPS operations in 2027, we remain focused on the long-term future of TAPS,” added Kurz. “We’re encouraged by the momentum and innovation embodied in work around the North Slope, where production is increasing at existing fields, game-changing projects like Pikka and Willow are coming online imminently, and bold new exploration and development efforts are continuing. That work, paired with an environment of support and action from federal and state energy policy leaders, has us focused on TAPS 100 and many more milestones ahead.”
Learn more about TAPS historic throughput at https://alyeska-pipe.com/historic-throughput/ and TAPS history at https://alyeska-pipe.com/taps-facts/.
