Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Performance in the 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska, Earthquake

Abstract

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is one of the most significant engineering achievements of the 20th century and the first major pipeline system for which considerable attention was focused on the identification and quantification of potential seismic hazards and the implementation of design and operational features to address those hazards. One of these special design features included the concept for an above-ground supporting system for the pipeline crossing of the Denali fault. The 2002 M7.9 Denali fault earthquake represents the first successful test of a structure specifically designed for fault displacement. The earthquake also demonstrated the benefits of the multi-tiered earthquake preparedness and response strategy in place at the time of the earthquake.