Kenai Pipeline East Forelands; Nikiski, Alaska

Nikiski, Alaska | 1992-Jan-04

Initial Notification: At 0030, January 4, 1992, an oily water ballast mixture was being transferred between tanks at the Kenai Pipeline dock at Nikiski, Alaska when the pipeline burst and released the mixture into Cook Inlet. Failing heat tape on the pipeline caused the accident at the facility owned jointly by Chevron and ARCO. The owners immediately accepted full responsibility for the accident. Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Incorporated (CISPRI) had a foxtail skimmer on the slick within 45 minutes and a second one on scene by daybreak. After the four-day response, no further oil was sighted in Cook Inlet. The weather at the time of the incident was temperature 20 to 25?F with light to strong winds from the northeast and intermittent low cloud banks. USCG district 17. Keyword: Corexit 9527, dispersant.