Which pipeline carries crude oil from northern Alaska to the port of Valdez?

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System carries crude oil from northern Alaska to the port of Valdez.

The 1,287-kilometre pipeline transports oil from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope to the ice-free marine terminal at Valdez. Construction began in 1975 after Congress authorized the project, and the first oil reached Valdez in 1977.

The route crosses rugged terrain and areas affected by permafrost. Engineers used elevated supports and other design features to reduce heat transfer from the warm oil into frozen ground. The pipeline also crosses earthquake-prone country, including the Denali Fault region.

It is often called the Alaska Pipeline, but its formal name is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. It is distinct from proposed or partially built pipelines serving Canadian and U.S. production regions.