As a result of the Tuesday oil spill of "several thousand barrels," Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. has decided to shut the 800-mile Trans-Alaska pipeline system which transports crude oil from fields in Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, the US' northernmost ice-free port.

The pipeline, which moved an average 645,113 barrels a day in April, boasts a peak capacity of over 2.1 million barrels a day.

The oil spill that brought about the shuttering of the pipeline occurred at around 10:20 a. m. local time, when Alyeska was testing a fire command system at pump station No. 9 near the town of Delta Junction, Alaska.

While the test was being conducted, a power failure caused the failures of a valve, which further led to the draining of the oil into a tank that overflowed into a secondary containment area that can hold only about
104,500 barrels.

According to a statement by Alyeska, the oil spill did not cause any injuries and personnel have been evacuated. However, pipeline shutdown has resulted in a nearly 16 percent reduction in capacity, on the Trans-Alaska system, for the Alaska North Slope producers.

Commending the cautious approach followed by Alyeska, Tom DeRuyter, on-scene spill coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said about the company: "Safety is their No. 1 objective right now. As soon as it is safe to move in, then they'll get the power on and try to empty that tank out."