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CONTENTS MAY 2020 | VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 5 | AKBIZMAG.COM
FE AT UR E S 8 TELECOM & TECH Working in Your PJs
Telecommuting makes it easier for employees to achieve positive work-life balance By Tracy Barbour
26 C ONSTRUCTION Used but Not Used Up
Reclaimed materials find their way into commercial, residential projects By Vanessa Orr
86 ENVIRONMENTAL
Marine Environmental Services The front line for protecting Alaska’s shorelines By Isaac Stone Simonelli
92 TOURISM
Beyond the Boat Excursions and shoreside services enhance the visitor experience
18 ALASKA NATIVE
Creating Trust Restructured Alaska Native Settlement Trusts are a powerful tool for social change By Isaac Stone Simonelli
Wayde Carroll
malisunshine | Twenty20
By Tracy Barbour
Alaska Business (ISSN 8756-4092) is published monthly by Alaska Business Publishing Co., Inc. 501 W. Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite 100, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2577; Telephone: (907) 276-4373. Š 2020 Alaska Business Publishing Co. All rights reserved. No part of this publication May be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Alaska Business accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials; they will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. One-year subscription is $39.95 and includes twelve issues (print + digital) and the annual Power List. Single issues of the Power List are $15 each. Single issues of Alaska Business are $4.99 each; $5.99 for the July & December issues. Send subscription orders and address changes to circulation@akbizmag.com. To order back issues ($9.99 each including postage) visit simplecirc.com/back_issues/alaska-business.
4 | May 2020
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CONTENTS MAY 2020 | VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 5 | AKBIZMAG.COM
OIL & GAS SPECIAL SECTION 44 ALASKA’S GIVING PIPELINE Philanthropy in the oil and gas industry
36 BP LEAVES BIG SHOES TO FILL Hilcorp’s purchase of BP assets marks significant milestone
Joshua Lowman
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By Isaac Stone Simonelli
By Amy Newman
52 HOW WILL BIG OIL CLIMATE PLEDGES AFFECT ALASKA?
Climate change commitments promise to reduce carbon emissions and invest in carbon storage
ABOUT THE COVER
By Sam Friedman
58 BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORT
Support services companies instrumental in keeping oil workers safe, fed, and comfortable By Amy Newman
64 TAPS TURNS 44
What it takes to keep the oil flowing By Sam Friedman
70 OIL & GAS DIRECTORY
More than 18 billion barrels of oil have moved through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System; the incredible impact that companies involved in the oil and gas industry have had on Alaska through the corporate philanthropy “pipeline” is harder to measure but even easier for Alaskans to see. From funding University of Alaska infrastructure and programs to providing gathering spaces for fundraising and nonprofit events to helping create outdoor spaces that are beautiful and functional, oil and gas industry corporations have made Alaska’s communities a priority day by day and barrel by barrel for decades. Cover by Monica Sterchi-Lowman • Photography by Amy Bell and Jeremy Cubas
QUICK READS 100 INSIDE ALASKA BUSINESS 6 | May 2020
102 RIGHT MOVES
104 ALASKA TRENDS
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FROM THE EDITOR
VOLUME 37, #5 EDITORIAL STAFF Managing Editor Kathryn Mackenzie
COVID-19
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Associate/Web Editor Tasha Anderson 257-2902 tanderson@akbizmag.com
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I
am fortunate enough to be writing this month’s letter to you from my home. I say fortunate because in the midst of all the fear and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re still working, and that’s no small thing—one quarter of the US economy is “on pause” as of early April for an unspecified amount of time as eight of ten US counties are under a variety of “hunker down” orders. Thankfully, the whole Alaska Business team is still here, committed as ever to delivering important news to our readers about how COVID-19 has affected and will continue to affect businesses and industry in Alaska. This month I'll pull the curtain back on our operations a little bit to give some clarity about why there are very few mentions of COVID-19 in this issue. As a print magazine, we work in the future. Meaning we plan our editorial calendar about a year in advance, adding stories throughout the year to special sections or if a timely topic comes up. And “timely” is the key word here. Even though we add stories as the year progresses, they are still assigned and written two months before publication. So in early March, all the stories in this issue were assigned and being researched and written—while at the same time we were just starting to feel the effects of this novel coronavirus, we weren’t all working from home yet, and we had only seen a handful of cases in Alaska. Now, just one month later, businesses all over the state have closed indefinitely putting hundreds out of work; those who are fortunate enough to be working are either working from home or are working under very difficult circumstances (don’t get me started on the healthcare situation); and confirmed COVID-19 cases have surpassed 180 in Alaska, 350,000 in the United States, and more than 1.5 million worldwide. And, of course, every conference or meeting scheduled for May has been cancelled, delayed, or is being held virtually. For this reason we have chosen not to run the Community and Business Events Calendars for May. Things are changing so rapidly that I cannot begin to predict what the state of COVID-19 will be when this issue is published on May 1, but I can predict that our mission of providing support to the business community in Alaska through in-depth news coverage won’t change. To that end, we’ve compiled a page of COVID-19 resources at akbizmag.com/ covid-19/covid-19-updates to provide you with all the information you need to apply for the many programs being offered by state and federal governments. Even though we’re all hunkered down at home, we are staying in close communication with our friends in the community (via phone, of course). This is an extremely trying time for everyone, but I hope there is comfort knowing we’re all in it together. Be well,
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Kathryn Mackenzie Managing Editor, Alaska Business
Alaska Business
May 2020 | 7
TELECOM & TECH
Working in Your PJs Telecommuting makes it easier for employees to achieve positive work-life balance
titovailona | Twenty20
By Tracy Barbour
8 | May 2020
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
T
elecommuting is becoming more prevalent, driven by technological advances, changing family dynamics, health concerns, and other factors. Also referred to as teleworking and remote working, telecommuting is a flexible arrangement that enables employees to avoid commuting or traveling to a central place of work, such as an office building, warehouse, or store. Instead, they work—completely or partially—from home or another off-site location. According to the Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey, 4.7 million Americans regularly work from home, up 173 percent since 2005. This group—which does not include the self-employed population—works from home at least half the time and represents roughly 3 percent of the workforce. Forty percent more US companies offered remote work as an option in 2018 than they did five years ago, according to research-based consulting firm Global Workplace Analytics. And the growth in telecommuting has taken
“Typically, remote workers are high performers and don’t need a lot of check-ins on their job tasks; it’s more about making them feel connected to the rest of the team.” Jeana Tye, Senior Manager Mass Market Service Delivery, Alaska Communications
place ten times faster than in other fields of work. That’s a testament to how increasingly popular remote work is becoming. Telecommuting is taking place across almost every industry, according to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics. Many people have jobs that involve sitting in front of a keyboard, using a phone, and other tasks that easily can be done remotely. Telecommuting is especially popular in the technology and healthcare fields, as well as with certain geographic regions and ages. “We are seeing trends more toward rural areas and with millennials
who are starting to have children and are wanting to move out of the more urban environments,” says Lister. Age wise, telecommuting is more common among employees above the age of 35 and Baby Boomers, according to Global Workplace Analytics. The average telecommuter is 46 or older, has a bachelor’s degree, and earns a higher median salary than an in-office worker. And roughly the same population of women and men telecommute. So what’s fueling the growth of telecommuting? Most recently the coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, is
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driving much of the increase, Lister says. Health officials, physicians, as well as city and state leaders are encouraging companies to allow employees to work from home whenever possible to minimize the spread of the disease in the workplace. The Society for Human Resource Management issued a statement recommending employers consider the following preventive measures: “Actively encourage sick employees to stay home, send symptomatic employees home until they are able to return to work safely, and require employees returning from high-risk areas to telework during the incubation period.” Historically, the top drivers for remote work have fluctuated over the years based on the circumstances. “During the recession, it was saving money,” Lister explains. “Right now, it's attracting and retaining talent. In some countries, sustainability leads the charge. After a crisis, it's resilience and disaster preparedness.” However, the best telecommuting outcomes, Lister says, can be achieved among companies that approach 10 | May 2020
remote work as a strategic initiative and involve all functional units in its implementation, such as human resources, IT, finance, and marketing. “Training is key,” she says. “Rather than letting it happen, organizations need to make it happen.”
Telecommuting in Alaska Increasingly, organizations are taking steps toward remote work in Alaska, although not quite as much as in the Lower 48. “The numbers show 2.3 percent of employees (7,426) work at home half time or more,” Lister says. “This is lower than the national average of 3.4 percent.” However, telecommuting is on the rise in Alaska, says Paula Bradison, president and CEO of Alaska Executive Search (AES), a full-service recruiting and staffing firm. This is especially true for the medical industry, where telemedicine is increasingly filling a void in the state’s more isolated areas. Advancements in technology are making it easier for physicians and other professionals to deliver services remotely. “We’re seeing more job offers
where people have the flexibility to be off site,” Bradison says. Still, Bradison suspects there is less telecommuting happening in Alaska than elsewhere due, in part, to the state’s strong natural resource development and military presence. She explains, “They are more handson type jobs that you can’t do from a remote place.” Plus, many of Alaska’s employers want to know that Alaskans are putting Alaskans to work. And this may be impacting the growth of telecommuting in Alaska. “The idea of someone who’s telecommuting is often not as appealing as hiring someone who’s in Alaska,” she says. However, telecommuting works for AES, which has employees who have relocated to Germany, Texas, California, and Arizona. “Instead of trying to find someone to replace them, with their expertise, we’ve modified the job.” To make these arrangements work, AES uses a “blended” approach, Bradison says. Each morning, the company conducts a team meeting using a Microsoft 365 collaboration tool. It
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also flies staff members to Alaska each month on a rotating basis to engage in face-to-face communications with other employees and clients.
“Working remote is an earned privilege for high performers, and I’ve found it yields higher productivity. My remote workers are strong individual contributors, and working from home allows them to bring out strengths and qualities within
Fiercely
themselves to perform
Independent
at a higher level.”
Like You.
Jeana Tye Senior Manager Mass Market Service Delivery Alaska Communications
It can be difficult to find talent in Alaska, says Todd Saunders, president and CEO of AKHIRE. That’s why his company allows employees to telecommute. Depending on the position, AKHIRE generally lets its staff spend one third of their time working from home, a third on the road, and a third in the office. Facilitating remote work is an important part of providing a competitive employee benefits package at AKHIRE. “I don’t have the ability to offer huge salaries,” Saunders says. “Telecommuting allows smaller companies to get good quality people and offer them other benefits.” Alaska Communications, which www.akbizmag.com
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A meeting at the Business Technology Center. Alaska Communications
provides IT management and business solutions, employs remote workers and encourages telecommuting for its officebased employees when necessary. Telecommuting workers represent various areas of the Anchorage-based telecommunications company, such as information technology, sales, and contact center operations. For example, Alaska Communications’ consumer and small business contact center has remote workers who seamlessly serve customers from locations around the state, including Homer, Sitka, and Fairbanks. “Working remote is an earned privilege for high performers, and I’ve found it yields higher productivity,” says Jeana Tye, senior manager of mass market service delivery at Alaska Communications. “My remote workers are strong individual contributors and working from home allows them to bring out strengths and qualities within themselves to perform at a higher level. We’re fortunate that the VOIP [voice over internet protocol] technology we use to answer customer calls only requires an internet connection, allowing flexibility for our office 12 | May 2020
workers who may need to occasionally work from home due to weather or personal reasons.” Tye emphasizes the importance making sure remote workers feel included. “Typically, remote workers are high performers and don’t need a lot of check-ins on their job tasks; it’s more about making them feel connected to the rest of the team,” she says. “For example, if I order lunch for my team in Anchorage, I also order lunch for our remote workers.”
Benefits of Telecommuting Considering the benefits it provides to both employees and employers, the appeal of telecommuting is understandable. For workers, telecommuting offers a flexible schedule, enhances productivity, and creates greater work-life balance. It also results in a more satisfying work environment overall. People who work remotely at least once a month are 24 percent more likely to be happy and productive, according to smallbizgenius, a digital community for small business owners. For employers, remote workers help reduce overhead and operating
expenses. These are automatic cost savings because employers don’t have to invest as much in office space, pay electricity bills, or buy as much equipment. In addition, employees who regularly work remotely stay with their companies longer than onsite employees. Remote workers say they are likely to stay in their current job for the next five years, 13 percent longer than onsite workers, according to the 2019 State of Remote Work report by video conferencing company Owl Labs. And companies that allow remote work report 25 percent lower employee turnover than those that don’t, according to Owl Labs. Another important but often overlooked telecommuting benefit is that it promotes business continuity. This can be crucial in Alaska, where geography, weather, and infrastructure can be problematic. “With our limited road system and prevalence for natural disasters, having employees located in various locations can prove critical to continuing operations,” says Jim Gutcher, vice president of strategy and product management at Alaska Communications. “If an earthquake occurs in Anchorage and knocks out
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power or other connectivity services, employees in other locations, whether inside or outside Alaska, may continue business as usual. Or, when a highway is unexpectedly closed, workers are empowered to turn around and head home to continue working. Once you have technology and policies in place to support remote workers, you’ve augmented your business continuity plan.” In fact, business continuity is one of the primary reasons Alaska Communications implemented a remote worker program in its contact center, Tye says. “If a natural disaster were to impact our main contact center in Anchorage, we’d still have employees with the ability to answer customer calls,” she explains. “Additionally, if something were to happen to our Anchorage office, rendering it unsafe or unusable for business operations, my employees could easily work from home to serve our customers.” Telecommuting can be especially advantageous in Alaska, where the state’s massive size makes it difficult for businesses to be everywhere. 14 | May 2020
Alaska’s remoteness also makes it harder for companies to cover all the populated regions with multiple offices, Saunders says. But allowing workers to telecommute gives companies the ability to cover more areas with less overhead.
“It’s really important to have clearly-defined expectations, so everybody is on the same page of what success looks like.” Paula Bradison President/CEO, Alaska Executive Search
However, Saunders points out that the need for an office or face-to-face networking doesn’t go completely
away with telecommuting. And one of the negative sides of telecommuting is the loss of personal connection from not having human interaction. He says: “Having someone in front of you is so much better than on a computer screen… Even though you can get a lot done on the phone, there’s value in meeting people and having a personal connection.” Telecommuting has its challenges, Bradison agrees. And it requires collaboration, cooperation, and adherence to the corporate culture for remote working to be effective. “It’s really important to have clearly-defined expectations, so everybody is on the same page of what success looks like,” she says.
Role of Technology Technology is a crucial component for working from home. At the bare minimum, a computer and reliable internet connection are required, Gutcher says. However, particular technological requirements depend on the nature of the work. To Gutcher, telecommuting workers
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MANAGING REMOTE WORKERS
P
roviding the appropriate technology can be the easy part of connecting remote workers, but employers also need to make the extra effort to make them feel part of the team, says Cindy Christopher, director of managed IT at Alaska Communications. Offsite workers require significantly more management touch points as they don’t have the daily office interactions. Here’s her advice for managing remote workers:
Jane Henderson, AES business development specialist, conducting a team meeting. AES C
• Use video teleconference and make sure the employees’ hardware is equipped with a camera. • Make sure workers have a good work environment in their home from which to conduct meetings. • Be sure work schedules are set and communicated to account for work hours across time zones. • Meeting etiquette can be difficult to engage remotely, so control noise in the conference room and actively include remote meeting participants. • It can be more difficult to manage performance, so check in on work output and customer satisfaction. (The customer should have a seamless experience and not even know the employee is working remote.)
16 | May 2020
fall into three categories: occasional, nomadic, and remote. The occasional category would include employees who typically work in the office but need to work from home because they have a sick child. Nomadic employees might be salespeople or workers who travel and spend a lot of time on the road but are still based out of an office location. And remote workers are employees who work remotely full time. So who covers the cost of the technology being used by a company’s remote workers? It depends on the work being performed and company policy. “While all of these remote workers can utilize the same basic technology, their employer’s investment in their technology portfolio may change based on how often they work remotely,” Gutcher says. “For example, the investment for an occasional worker, someone who may work from home only a handful of days per year, might look different than the investment made in someone who works remote 100 percent of the time.” Aside from a computer and reliable internet connection, added applications can augment a remote worker’s connection and
productivity, says Cindy Christopher, Alaska Communications’ director of managed IT. Tools like Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, cloud applications, soft client, Dropbox, WebEx, Skype for Business, Zoom, and VOIP phone services can be great help when it comes to collaboration and productivity. Another important aspect of remote work is access through a virtual private network with a strong firewall. At AES, modern technology not only facilitates remote work, but allows staff to work more efficiently in the office. “We rely on Microsoft products because it allows a level of security and affordability that we cannot get on our own,” Bradison says. For AKHIRE, tools like Skype, FaceTime, and Google make it easy for staff to video chat with clients when they’re not in the company’s Anchorage or Juneau offices. High-speed internet and the latest smartphones give employees much more flexibility and capacity to work from the comfort of home. “There’s so much more you can do now without anyone knowing that you’re not sitting in an office,” Saunders says. “But there’s a drawback. It allows you to get sucked into work even on your down time.”
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F
Creating Trust Restructured Alaska Native Settlement Trusts are a powerful tool for social change By Isaac Stone Simonelli
www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
ollowing the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law, more and more Alaska Native corporations are adding Alaska Native Settlement Trusts (ANSTs) to their toolbox to better support the welfare of their shareholders. Unlike other corporations, those created through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) are legally required not only to serve the economic interests of shareholders but also uphold their social values. “I’ve been working on Native issues for fifty years now; the one thing that's always bothered me is the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act said our purpose is to enhance the economic and social values of Alaska Natives,” says Carl Marrs, Old Harbor Native Corporation CEO and the mastermind behind recent changes to ANSTs. “But because of the way the tax rules are structured, it’s always limited what we could do for our shareholders as far as being able to give them any real income and enhance their economic value.”
May 2020 | 19
The interior of the Saxman Carving Shed, owned by Cape Fox Native Corporation. Aksassafrass854 | Twenty20
Updating Trust Policies
“But even getting the basics where Alaskan Natives actually need funding to help them in rural areas is very difficult. With this kind of program we are able to pay them through the trust and they don’t have to pay taxes—it’s a positive income that helps enormously with the cost of living in these rural areas.” Carl Marrs, CEO, Old Harbor Native Corporation
20 | May 2020
ANSTs were originally authorized by ANCSA amendments with the purpose of serving as a means to protect land. But they weren’t used frequently because land is already protected under the automatic land bank protections in ANCSA, explains Robert H. Hume Jr., a partner at Landye Bennett Blumstein who specializes in working with issues unique to Alaska Native corporations. The “1991” amendments to ANCSA, enacted by Congress in 1988, authorize Alaska Native corporations to place assets in a “settlement trust” for the benefit of shareholders, Natives, and descendants of Natives. In 2001, Congress eliminated most tax impediments to the formation and capitalization of settlement trusts and adopted provisions that gave additional tax benefits for using settlement trusts. Despite these changes and Alaska Native corporations’ desire to establish trusts as a mechanism to provide benefits to shareholders in other ways, the Internal Revenue Service’s standard was that the transfer of funds to ANSTs would be treated like a distribution to the beneficiaries, which caused issues, Hume says. “For many corporations, the tax situation was such that, if they put sizable amounts of assets into the trust, it would be considered to be
an immediate taxable distribution to the shareholders even though they received no cash,” Hume says. “That prevented most corporations that saw the trusts as an opportunity to set aside resources for their shareholders from doing so.” There has always been the ability to set up these trusts through ANCSA, Marrs concurs. “But nobody's ever really had the money to do it because after you pay your overhead, your operating cost, and your reinvestment program to grow the corporation—and your taxes—there wasn't much left,” Marrs says, noting that the incentive for adopting settlement trusts to better serve shareholders was to maximize shareholder benefits. Prior to the changes pushed through in 2017, several corporations did set up trusts when they received a windfall of money, such as when Old Harbor Native Corporation received a settlement from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Marrs says. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 significantly changed all of that. “In most cases where trusts are formed, corporations or individuals put money into trust, and they get a deduction. We weren't allowed to put money in the trust until after we paid our taxes,” Marrs says. “So, the idea was
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to be more like the rest of America from a tax standpoint and allow us to take a deduction for what we contribute to the trust so that there would be more money piling up in these trusts to be able to pay shareholders.” Payments into an ANST are now taxdeductible, a change from when the corporation needed to pay income tax on the money prior to putting it into the trust; however, the trust does pay a 10 percent tax on the income. As long as a trust shows a profit, beneficiaries do not need to pay any taxes at the end of the year on dividends or other benefits received, Marrs explains. “The biggest benefit for most of the Alaska Native corporations has been the ability to provide dividends to our shareholders tax-free,” Alaska Native Village Corporation Association Executive Director Hallie Bissett says. “By giving distributions out of the trust, we can deliver those dividends to our shareholders and they get all of the money rather than having to pay taxes on them at the end of the year.” 22 | May 2020
“Because of the way the tax rules are structured, it’s always limited what we could do for our shareholders as far as being able to give them any real income and enhance their economic value.” Carl Marrs, CEO, Old Harbor Native Corporation
Mission Focused Part of establishing an ANST is recognizing the goals of the trust. The guidelines for these goals are incredibly flexible and broad, Hume says.
“The only thing that ANCSA requires is that it be for the health, education, or welfare of beneficiaries, or for the promotion and preservation of Native culture,” Hume says. “So each corporation kind of has to develop its own vision of what it wants to achieve with a settlement trust.” A shareholder vote is required to establish an ANST, which—if approved—is then managed by a board of trustees. Given the benefits to the corporations and shareholders, there has been overwhelming support for creating ANSTs. The most common type of trust established is set up to pay out dividends to shareholders. The corporation pays into the trust and then the trust itself sets up rules as to how it will pay dividends. Trusts can also be created to pay funds out for elders, scholarships, or child care, Marrs notes. The Eyak Corporation created the Eyak Benefits Trust in 2019 with the scope of providing two types of benefits.
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“For many corporations, the tax situation was such that, if they put sizable amounts of assets into the trust, it would be considered to be an immediate taxable distribution to the shareholders even though they received no cash. That prevented most corporations that saw the trusts as an opportunity to set aside resources for their shareholders from doing so.” Robert H. Hume Jr., Partner, Landye Bennett Blumstein
“It has an elders benefit program that provides payments, up to $500 per year, to each elder who is an original shareholder,” says Martin Parsons, chair of The Eyak Corporation and chair of the Eyak Benefits Trust. “It also will have a funeral and burial assistance program that provides up to $1,000 of assistance when any [The Eyak Corporation] shareholder dies. The payments currently made by [The Eyak Corporation] under the funeral and burial assistance program it established in 2010 will be replaced.” Parsons notes that other benefits may be added in the future, but none are currently in the works. “The Eyak Corporation’s board of directors, management, and the Eyak Benefits Trust’s trustees are grateful for our elders and are pleased to provide this token of our appreciation,” Parson says. The move to create an elder support program, which The Eyak Corporation didn’t have prior to this trust, saw an overwhelming amount of support from respondents to its 2017 Shareholder Survey, with 97 percent of shareholders saying it was either “very important” or “important.” “You can differentiate in classes under the way we structure the trust rules for Native Corporations because elders are important to Alaska Natives and that allowed us to give them some help once they reach sixty-five,” Marrs says. Old Harbor Native Corporation has established two trusts. One pays 100 percent of its shareholders in the same way the corporation might pay out a dividend. Additionally, there is a trust established to pay elders. 24 | May 2020
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“In our case, we give them a monthly payment, in addition to their regular dividend trust,” Marrs says. Marrs was part of the lobbying team that traveled to Washington, DC to create the momentum necessary to pass the legislation. “We didn't load it up with a whole bunch of other issues. We had it as a single issue legislation,” Marrs says, noting that when legislation starts to gain traction and move through the system, legislatures tend to load it up with additional provisions. “That will normally kill a piece of legislation. So for this one, we tried to keep a focus on the single purpose of enhancing the economic and social values of shareholders: Alaska Natives.” ANSTs were designed to help Alaska Native corporations tackle a unique problem, explains Marrs. “ANCSA required us to form corporations under state law. But it added a few pieces that no other corporation ever had to deal with in America. It said that we had an obligation, which was an economic and social obligation, to our shareholders,” Marrs says. “Adding that social piece really put a burden on corporations because you had to find ways to help your shareholders come out of poverty.” Every time an Alaska Native corporation thought it figured out a way to meet that obligation, it was met with another tax burden or some other restriction that left it handicapped, Marrs says. “Alaska Natives and American Indians are still the poorest of the poor in the nation on a poverty level,” Marrs says. “This is just another way of trying to get them out of that hole.” Marrs says that the measure appears to be effective, pointing out that more and more trusts are formed all the time. “It's taken a while for some of those smaller villages to just catch up on it. I think the majority of the regional corporations have formed trusts and are using that ability to get money to their shareholders,” Marr says. “I know that village corporations have been scrambling to get their trust together to do these set-asides. A lot of those corporations are still too small and they don't have a huge amount that they can www.akbizmag.com
put into the trust, but they get there.” Marrs points out that Alaska Native Corporations have taken their role of providing social benefits to their shareholders very seriously through nonprofits focused on health, education, and social programs. “But even getting the basics, where Alaskan Natives actually need funding to help them, in rural areas is very difficult,” Marrs says. “With this kind of program we are able to pay them through the trust and they don’t have to pay taxes—it’s a positive income that helps enormously with the cost of
living in these rural areas." With the costs of products imported into remote villages being as high as $7 to $8 for a gallon of milk, villages can be expensive places to live. “I mean they have their subsistence lifestyle, but that doesn’t get everything they need,” Marrs says. “So this really does go a long way toward helping those Alaskan Natives who really need it.” Fundamentally, ANSTs are another tool to help ANCs solve social welfare problems that can cripple the overall wellbeing of their shareholders.
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CONSTRUCTION
A large, steel-frame house that was framed using all salvaged steel from different demolition projects. CRS | CEI
Used but Not Used Up Reclaimed materials find their way into commercial, residential projects By Vanessa Orr 26 | May 2020
T
here are a lot of reasons to build with reclaimed materials, from lower costs to decreased environmental impact to the fact that they can be used to truly customize a project. But before jumping on the reuse/recycle bandwagon, it’s important to realize that this method comes with a number of challenges. This is especially true on the design side of projects, where it is imperative to know exactly what materials will be used and that they will be available when needed. There are also risks that come with planning a project using materials that may not perform as well as new products would and that may not end up being well-suited for their planned purpose.
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“There is a lot more planning involved, both for the designer and the contractor,” says Carel Nagata, senior architect/associate at Stantec, an engineering services company. “It’s a lot easier to just order exactly what a project needs. When you’re given a pile of reclaimed material, you have to determine whether it’s enough material and how to patch it all together. You need a lot more time to plan, and that time is a cost that goes back to the owner.” T h a t ’s n o t to s ay i t i s n’ t w o r t h i t , h ow e ve r. “All of the cool things in my house are either reclaimed or salvaged,” says Paula Bogdan, who along with her husband, Jeff, built a 3,000-squarefoot home in Girdwood using roughly 25,000 pounds of reclaimed beams, among other items. “Flexibility is really important. You have to be open to new ideas.”
Why Use Reclaimed Materials? Generally when people consider using reclaimed materials, they do it for one of two reasons: they want to save money or they want to reduce their environmental impact. “One of the biggest benefits is the huge cost savings; we sell most of our reclaimed building material for 50 percent or less than what it costs new, and projects also have reduced transportation costs because it doesn’t require shipping materials from China or the Lower 48,” explains Central Recycling Services (CRS) and Central Environmental Inc. (CEI) partner Shane Durand. “While it’s sometimes a challenge to have to design with what we have— for example, someone wants a 2x6, but I only have 2x8s—if the price is right, they make it work,” he adds. “They adjust their plans based on the materials available.” ReStore, part of Habitat for Humanity Anchorage, sees people buying these materials for the same reasons. “Most of our reclaimed materials cost about half the price of new, if not lower,” says Norman Beasley, general manager of the nonprofit thrift store, adding that those prices are based on what materials can be sold for on eBay and not full retail price. “We’re also seeing that people are www.akbizmag.com
becoming more conscious about what they buy,” he continues. “I’ve personally always been a ‘new’ buyer, but now I realize that I can fix things up if I spend a little extra time. Before, when people were buying new, they weren’t addressing the issue of how much waste one person can cause; now, we’re seeing more conscious builds.” By making the decision to use reclaimed materials, individuals and businesses can have a positive impact on the environment.
“One of the biggest benefits is the huge cost savings; we sell most of our reclaimed building material for 50 percent or less than what it costs new, and projects also have reduced transportation costs because it doesn’t require shipping materials from China or the Lower 48.” Shane Durand, Partner, CRS/CEI
“We had 34,000 transactions last year, and even if you conservatively estimate that each person bought 2 to 5 pounds of stuff, that’s 68,000 to 170,000 pounds of materials not going into the garbage,” says Beasley. Items that go to ReStore and can’t be reused are recycled, making even more of a difference. “If we can’t take light fixtures or ovens, for example, we recycle the metal through a partnership with Alaska Waste,” says Beasley. “Last year, about four tons of metal waste was diverted from the landfill.” While both cost and environmental Alaska Business
The Bogdan’s 3,000-square-foot home in Girdwood showcases just how many different ways reclaimed wood can be used in a home. Carel Nagata
May 2020 | 27
impact play a huge part in the reclamation trend, there are other reasons that people use these materials. Sometimes reclaimed materials have special meaning, and other times, it’s just, well, cool. “When we started building our house, we didn’t want a cookie-cutter home,” says Bogdan, an IT project manager who served as the project’s general contractor. “I decided to look on Craigslist to see what I could find and found thirty-two beams, ranging from 11-1/2 to 20 feet, in Talkeetna. Half of them came from the old Denali School. “They were really cool, gnarly looking beams that were more than fifty years old, but the drawback was that we had to buy the whole lot,” she continues. “We planned to use them for open riser timber stairs and sell what we couldn’t use. We ended up using all of it for support and stair posts, decorative beams in the kitchen, a beautiful kitchen table, and we’ve got a coffee table in progress. “Throughout this process, I’ve discovered a love of the patina of different woods, which is something
28 | May 2020
you can’t create with new materials.” The couple also had some of the wood milled to create barnwood siding on the house’s exterior and for baseboard and fireplace trim. While serving as a firefighter with the Girdwood Fire Department, Bogdan also learned about its upcoming station renovation and approached them about salvaging what she could. “I told them, ‘Give me one day,’ and we got over there and took out all of the cabinets, which we’ve used in our kitchen, dining room, and guest suite. They were also throwing out cedar fencing, which we used to make beautiful barn doors.” As a result of Bogdan’s search, the couple saved a huge amount on their 4-bedroom, 4.5 -bath house. “My carpenter said that if I’ d bought new beams, it would have cost around $65,000,” she says proudly. “I paid $5,000, so I saved about 90 percent. And the cabinets and fencing were free.” The Kenaitze Indian Tribe of Kenai also used reclaimed wood in the building of the Dena’ina Wellness Center, which
Central Environmental Inc. salvaging large wood beams from a building demolition. CRS | CEI
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ReStore carries a wide range of reclaimed building materials, including lighting. If light fixtures or other metals can’t be reused, they are recycled through a partnership with Alaska Waste. Habitat for Humanity Anchorage
Inventory constantly changes at ReStore, where shoppers can find everything from cedar chips and triple-paned windows to siding and lumber. Habitat for Humanity Anchorage
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Concrete rubble being dropped for recycling at Central Environmental Inc. CRS | CEI
“If material reclamation is important to an owner’s values, like this wood that preserves the history of the people working in the cannery, it adds emotional ties to a building.” Carel Nagata, Senior Architect, Stantec
30 | May 2020
came from the demolition of one of the Columbia Wards Cannery warehouses. More than 66,000 linear square feet of wood was purchased from the teardown of that building, including pieces that had the names of past cannery workers and tribe members inscribed in the wood. Lumber from that same purchase will be used in a Head Start school building project that is currently underway at Stantec. “If material reclamation is important to an owner’s values, like this wood that preserves the history of the people working in the cannery, it adds emotional ties to a building,” says Nagata. “In this case, this connection to the material may not be a cultural thing, but it’s important from a community history standpoint.”
The Challenges There are a number of things to keep in mind when designing using reclaimed items. Before joining Stantec, Nagata
ran her own company, Carel Nagata, which was involved in the design of the Bogdan’s house. “One of the biggest issues that designers and contractors face is finding source material; we don’t really have a dependable supplier up here, and that makes it a challenge if a client wants us to specify reclaimed materials,” says Nagata. “While Habitat for Humanity does carry some reclaimed material, we don’t have a construction business here that specializes in this area, so you never know what will be available. In many cases, even if you do find the right materials, storage can be a big issue.” In the Bogdans’ case, storing that many massive beams meant moving the wood around. More than once. “Storage was an issue; we probably moved that same pile of wood ten times before we used it,” laughs Bogdan of the roughly 25,000 pounds of wood. “We had to borrow a friend’s lift to move it, but I still think it was totally worth it.”
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Depending on the type of material reclaimed, designers and contractors also have to figure out the appropriate place to use it in a project. “The cannery wood that we’re using on the Head Start project is Douglas Fir, which is super strong but physically soft, so you can’t use it where there’s a lot of wear and tear,” says Nagata, who is in the process of coordinating what size pieces are available so that she can complete the design process. “If the pieces are all 2x12s, it limits how we can configure it; we may need to mill it down into another size to create a custom component,” she says. “We may want to slice it smaller to make a wall finish or use it as it is.” According to Nagata, residential projects are often a good place to use reclaimed materials because the timeframe isn’t as intense as that of commercial projects. “Reclaimed materials work best in smaller projects with flexible schedules when you have the contractor on board early,” she explains. “Being able to get to the materials during the design process to assess them for yourself also creates the right environment. “It becomes more challenging on commercial renovation projects because of the schedule,” she continues. “If you're [demolishing] a building, you have to take extra care; you can’t just rip something off a wall. Then you need a place to store it until you’re ready to use it.” She adds that it’s also harder to do a competitive bid project using reclaimed materials because there are a lot of variables that can’t be controlled on the design end. “Sometimes this becomes a barrier if the contractor can’t find the material locally, and it has to be shipped up.” Quality control is also an issue as there are no standards to follow to ensure the quality of reclaimed material. Nagata recommends working closely with the owner and contractor to make sure that everyone is aware of the risks involved with this type of project.
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Finding a Market for Reclaimed Material While some reclaimed materials can be found on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, there are local resources as well. www.akbizmag.com
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May 2020 | 31
A large, steel-frame house that was framed using all salvaged steel from different demolition projects. CRS | CEI
“ReStore carries a wide variety of reclaimed items; anything from walking stones to cedar chips to steel frames for businesses or commercial complexes,” says Beasley. “We’ve got solid doors for home exteriors and business interiors, as well as lumber for patching part of a house or weathered wood for greenhouses. We also have hardware, caster wheels, fasteners, windows for log cabins, and even double and triplepaned windows at times.” Some of ReStore’s inventory comes from people who are updating their homes, moving to smaller spaces, or moving out of town. Construction companies also provide a wealth of materials from countertops to siding, drywall, and heating ducts. “One company gave us twelve pallets of siding, which was enough to redo a 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot home,” says Beasley, adding that reclaimed building materials are the number one item that the store sells, followed by 32 | May 2020
“Rather than throwing things away and getting a write-off, they can work with their CPAs or the IRS to get a credit, which makes it better for them and for us.” Norman Beasley, General Manager, ReStore
hardware and furniture. While companies can get a tax writeoff for donating materials, they may
also be able to get a tax credit. “That’s even more of a buy-in from a company standpoint,” says Beasley. “Rather than throwing things away and getting a write-off, they can work with their CPAs or the IRS to get a credit, which makes it better for them and for us.” CRS and its sister company CEI not only collect and resell reclaimed material but also create their own products out of these materials that they sell to other markets. “CRS’ focus is on reclamation and recycling of construction and demolition debris,” says Durand. “Our scrapyard takes steel, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, electronics, et cetera, and we process and recycle it to end markets, like steel mills and electronic processors. We also sell steel beams and steel plates for reuse—some people use it in house construction, for example, as metal decking and structural support.” CEI is a demolition company that
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ReStore has a wide range of reclaimed building materials, including solid doors for home exteriors and business interiors. Habitat for Humanity Anchorage
“There is a lot more planning involved, both for the designer and the contractor. It’s a lot easier to just order exactly what a project needs. When you’re given a pile of reclaimed material, you have to determine whether it’s enough material and how to patch it all together. You need a lot more time to plan, and that time is a cost that goes back to the owner.” Carel Nagata, Senior Architect, Stantec
performs demolition work at sites like the Flint Hills Refinery and Pump Station #10 on the Richardson Highway. While larger industrial plant items such as generators are resold or reused, other construction debris—concrete, asphalt, and glass—are recycled to make new building materials. The general construction debris goes through a giant shredder before landing on a large conveyor belt where material like aluminum cans, copper, some types of plastic, wood, brick, and concrete are separated before approximately 75 to 80 percent of it is sent to end markets. “We probably recycle 80 to 90 percent of debris on a big commercial demo project,” says Durand, adding that their aggregate products can be 34 | May 2020
used for foundations, roads, traction sand, pipe bedding, and landscaping purposes, among other uses. CRS also recycles tires to create a lightweight, free draining fill material that is used in building applications. “Our crushed concrete product is probably the most used; last year, we sold more than 25,000 tons in Anchorage,” says Durand. “If we don’t crush it, it gets thrown away somehow.” While CRS and CEI would like to see more of these materials being used in Anchorage, they tend to market it to more rural Alaska communities as well as national and foreign markets. “The biggest barrier here [in Anchorage] is the municipality’s building code and enforcement,”
says Durand. “If you want to use a reclaimed piece of equipment or wooden timbers or steel beams, there will be questions about where it came from and what it’s made of, so a lot of engineers in Anchorage shy away from reusing these materials. We typically ship them out to the Mat-Su Valley or more rural areas where they don’t have such strict building enforcement. “Some designers and architects really embrace using reclaimed materials, some are still trying to figure out how to use it, and some won’t use it at all,” he adds. “But there always seems to be a market for these goods, whether it’s a bridge builder in Trapper Creek, a miner in Petersville, or a homeowner in Eagle.”
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May 2020 | 35
OIL & GAS
BP Leaves Big Shoes to Fill Hilcorp's purchase of BP assets marks significant milestone By Amy Newman
L
ast summer, rumors were swirling that oil giant BP planned to sell its Alaska interests and end its presence in the state. It wasn’t the first time industr y watchers had speculated that BP ’s future in Alaska was drawing to a close. But it ultimately turned out to be the last. BP officially put rumors of its exit to rest in August when it announced the $5.6 billion sale of all of its Alaska interests to
36 | May 2020
Hilcorp, the privately owned, Texas-based oil and gas company that first entered the Alaska market in 2012. At the time, BP’s then-Group Chief Executive Bob Dudley called Hilcorp “a highly-capable operator” whose extensive experience in Alaska made it “ideallyplaced to take this important business on into the future, continuing to optimize its performance and maximize its value for the State of Alaska.”
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Bill Popp, President/CEO, AEDC
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OIL & GAS
“ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil will continue to maintain their level of ownership in that field once the deal is approved. From an operational point of view, Hilcorp is going to have to meet the expectations of their co-owners. I think that’s not going to change.”
OIL & GAS
“Milne Point has been the hub of most of our activity and it is the shining example of what we’re capable of… We’ve drilled sixty wells. We’ve taken production from 18,400 barrels a day and it’s now crossed 34,000 barrels a day. It hasn’t been that high since 2008. By the end of 2020, we’re going to be producing more than 40,000 barrels a day at Milne Point.” David Wilkins, Senior VP, Hilcorp
More than six months later the transition is still underway, though both BP and Hilcorp still expect the sale to be finalized by the end of the second quarter. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to perform its due diligence and review all aspects of the transaction, including Hilcorp’s financial assurances and its bonding capabilities. And in March, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) issued an order permitting Hilcorp to keep private the financial statements it is required to produce as part of the sale. A lot of questions remain about how the change will impact North Slope operations and whether Hilcorp will be able to continue its pattern of infusing new life into aging assets like Prudhoe Bay. Here’s what we know so far.
what BP isn’t transferring as part of the sale is important. “BP is not transferring 100 percent of anything, because it doesn’t hold a 100 percent working interest ownership in any of these assets,” she said in a joint presentation to the Alaska Senate and House Resources Committee in February. “I think that is a key piece for the public to bear in mind when we’re talking about assets like Prudhoe Bay that are so important to the state.” Milne Point Operations Center Hilcorp
What’s at Stake—and Why The sale encompasses 100 percent of BP’s Alaska interests, which includes its midstream and upstream assets (as well as BP Exploration Alaska, which owns the upstream oil and gas interests); BP Pipelines’ interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System; and a cluster of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) units located within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The sale will give Hilcorp a 26 percent working interest in Prudhoe Bay alongside ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil, a 32 percent interest in the Point Thomson Unit, and a 50 percent interest in the ASRC leases. But while BP is transferring 100 percent of its Alaska interests to Hilcorp, DNR Commissioner Corri Feige said 38 | May 2020
Hilcorp will, however, walk away from the sale with a 100 percent owner/ operator interest in both Milne Point a 50 percent interest in both those fields from BP in 2014. The big question is why, after sixty
years in Alaska, the company—which was instrumental in the growth of Prudhoe Bay and the creation of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System—would leave the state entirely. There was the usual finger-pointing at repeated attempts to change the state's oil tax regime. Damian Bilbao, vice president of commercial ventures for BP in Alaska, told legislators at a joint meeting of the House and Senate Resources committee in February that the potential for oil tax changes did play a part in the company’s decision. “There is no question that the ongoing oil tax uncertainty influenced the way BP Alaska was evaluated in our portfolio,” he said. But it wasn’t the only factor. Bilbao said the decision was part of BP’s larger goal of ensuring that the company’s investments continue to align with its corporate priorities and strategies. One of those priorities is making sure that its Lower 48 business interests, which include the 2018 acquisition of assets in West Texas, remain competitive for its growth investment. Rather than increasing the company’s debt to finance the $10 billion acquisition, Bilbao explained, BP chose to sell off some of its assets. The high cost of production in Alaska, the distance of oil to market, and tax risk all put Alaska out of line with BP’s goals. “Balanced against the uncertainty of our interest and our knowledge of Hilcorp, it made Alaska a solid divestment candidate,” he said.
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“Milne Point has been the hub of most of our activity and it is the shining example of what we’re capable of,” he told legislators. Milne Point was on an 8 percent decline with 90 employees maintaining operations when Hilcorp first came in. Five years later, the company has invested $700 million and houses 300 to 400 employees each night. “Those are jobs,” Wilkins said. “And what is the $700 million? We’ve drilled sixty wells. We’ve taken production from 18,400 barrels a day and it’s now crossed 34,000 barrels a day. It hasn’t www.akbizmag.com
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OIL & GAS
production company, Hilcorp’s “success is built on taking over mature legacy assets [and] infusing new capital, energy, and innovation into those and extending the life of those assets,” Senior Vice President of Hilcorp Alaska David Wilkins told legislators in February. Roughly 20 percent of the company’s equivalent gross production of 450,000 barrels of oil per day is from Alaska, he added. Hilcorp has invested $2.5 billion into Alaska since it arrived in 2012, Wilkins said. In Cook Inlet, its $1.7 billion investment helped Hilcorp increase production, maintain an aging infrastructure, and drill eighty-six new wells. Similar results at Milne Point, which Hilcorp acquired a 50 percent interest in from BP in 2014, makes it well-suited to assume operations in Prudhoe Bay, he said.
OIL & GAS A digital rendering of Liberty Island. Hilcorp
40 | May 2020
transparent with its financial statements is different to what Alaskans have become accustomed to when dealing with oil companies, it isn’t necessarily an indication of Hilcorp’s lack of financial fitness or a lack of scrutiny by the state.
legislators. “They stepped into Cook Inlet, and we went from having shortages in Southcentral to being in a fundamentally different place. They stepped into Milne Point and showed us not just how they could produce more oil but how they could build pads in a different way. We saw them deliver a new pad faster, more efficiently, and more effectively than, frankly, we would have, or than we did, for many years.”
The Future of Prudhoe Bay Hilcorp
been that high since 2008. By the end of 2020, we’re going to be producing more than 40,000 barrels a day at Milne Point.” But some have questioned Hilcorp’s readiness to take over such a large project, particularly its financial ability to do so. Those concerns were amplified when Hilcorp asked the RCA to keep its required financial disclosures private; the RCA granted Hilcorp’s request in a 4-1 decision in March, ruling that the financial statements were “confidential as a matter of law.” In its request, Hilcorp argued that it has “developed a business model that has relied on their competitive advantage of being private, while foregoing many of the advantages their peers enjoy by being public [such as increased access to capital markets]. The trade-off... is what allows [Hilcorp] to be purchasers and operators of latelife, mature fields and assets.” Wilkins compared the request to closed bidding in real estate transactions. “If you were bidding on a home, and that bid was made public so that everybody could see what you were bidding… I don’t think that’s fair,” he explained to legislators. Bill Popp, president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, says that while Hilcorp’s policy to be less than publicly
“I think that there are still a lot of things going on that are, yes, not in the public view in terms of man on the street, but this is not unusual in other deals,” he says. “There are other sectors of the economy, not in the oil patch, that are not publiclytraded companies that have business before the state of Alaska that are not disclosing their financials.” Bilbao said Hilcorp’s history of improving Alaska’s oil fields was an important factor in BP’s decision to sell to the company and expressed confidence in its ability to successfully operate in Prudhoe Bay. “Hilcorp certainly doesn’t need any hand holding,” Bilbao told
How Hilcorp’s acquisition of BP’s Alaska assets will affect operations in Prudhoe Bay is the $5.6 billion question. The answer is a mix of knowns and unknowns. “You’ve got multiple owners in the Prudhoe Bay field,” Popp says. “ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil will continue to maintain their level of ownership in that field once the deal is approved. From an operational point of view, Hilcorp is going to have to meet the expectations of their co-owners. I think that’s not going to change.” But he says he expects that Hilcorp’s business model, which is different from other North Slope oil companies, will have a ripple effect. “What is it going to do in terms of the business model for the North Slope? I think it’s going to make some improvements in that there’s going to
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be new investment brought into an old field [that] has not had the investment we’d have liked to see in bringing on the more marginal lines,” Popp says. “It will hopefully bring new barrels into the system.” Details on Hilcorp’s exploration and development plans are sparse, which Popp says isn’t unusual at this stage of the process. “They’re in there right now doing their final due diligence on the final BP assets, then they’re going to recognize there are areas where they want more information that BP wasn’t able to provide,” Popp explains. “It’s going to be a period of time and transition and analysis on their part, which is my speculation. But I don’t think that’s going to be an extended period, because they did not buy this asset just to sit on it.” Permit applications Hilcorp filed with the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas www.akbizmag.com
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“Hilcorp certainly doesn’t need any hand holding... They stepped into Milne Point and showed us not just how they could produce more oil but how they could build pads in a different way. We saw them deliver a new pad faster, more efficiently, and more effectively than, frankly, we would have, or than we did, for many years.”
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Oil rigs by night Colors of Alaska | iStockphoto
“We’re the first to bring polymer flooding to the Milne Point facility and to the North Slope. Two polymer flood pads are going on at Milne Point, and we’re in the process of expanding two more facilities; that’s going to double the recovery in the heavy oil.” David Wilkins, Senior VP, Hilcorp
shed light on their immediate plans. The division approved a proposal to expand its polymer injection facility at F Pad in the Milne Point Unit and to drill six development wells in the Ugnu Reservoir at Milne Point’s S Pad; Hilcorp amended the proposal in January, seeking approval to drill an additional four wells. “We’re excited about a pad called I Pad at Prudhoe Bay,” Wilkins told legislators. “We’re the first to bring 42 | May 2020
polymer flooding to the Milne Point facility and to the North Slope. Two polymer flood pads are going on at Milne Point, and we’re in the process of expanding two more facilities; that’s going to double the recovery in the heavy oil.” Uncertainty is part of any transition, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drastically reduced the price of oil and caused other oil companies to cut back on their spending, has
added another dimension to that uncertainty. But assuming the global oil market settles down after the pandemic has passed, Popp says the sale should be good for Alaska. “The bottom line is I think that this transaction, in the end, is going to lead to a more robust North Slope for Alaska in terms of barrels produced and jobs,” Popp says. “It’s just not necessarily going to be the same model that we’re used to.”
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Alaska’s Giving Pipeline Philanthropy in the oil and gas industry By Isaac Stone Simonelli
44 | May 2020
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Permanent Fund,” Moriarty says. “As the data shows, Alaska’s oil and gas industry remains the single most important economic engine in the state, and we are proud of the work we do to benefit all Alaskans.” The Alaska oil and gas industry, including multiplier effects, accounted for 77,600 jobs and $4.8 billion in wages, according to a recent McDowell Group study commissioned by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. In addition to wages, the industry paid $3.1 billion in state and local taxes and royalties in FY2019, including $2.7 billion to state government and $449 million to local governments, the report states. The impact of the oil and gas industry goes beyond employment and spending; many companies commit to supporting Alaskans through philanthropic efforts, from BP recognizing almost 800 extraordinary Alaskan educators with its BP Teachers of Excellence Program to ConocoPhillips Alaska investing a total of $2.6 million in Covenant House since 1983—the importance of the industry
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“We absolutely know the meaning of caring about our neighbors and the value of people coming together to solve problems. So we are excited to [take on the BP Energy Center] for the nonprofits in Alaska.” Elizabeth Miller VP of Development and Communications Alaska Community Foundation
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F
ew large foundations support “the general good” or social service projects in Alaska, so the Last Frontier has a pretty thin philanthropic layer, according to United Way of Anchorage Vice President Cassandra Stalzer. However, the oil and gas industry has a history of stepping in and filling the gaps in Alaska communities by providing money and volunteers for myriad charitable efforts in the state. Because Alaska is a relatively young state with a small population, it relies on the philanthropy of industry more heavily than other states, especially the oil and gas industry, Stalzer says. The oil and gas industry is a pillar of economic power in Alaska, providing jobs, tax revenue, and charity dollars in the state, according to Alaska Oil and Gas Association President and CEO Kara Moriarty. “Alaska’s oil and gas companies are proud to contribute to Alaska’s economy and quality of life. "When our industry thrives, our state benefits in many ways, from funding essential services to employing Alaskans to contributing to the health of the
OIL & GAS
“We do have a really strong focus on the communities where we live, work, and operate. We are Alaskans who review all the grant requests that come in. We keep our ear to the ground to understand what the community needs.” Jennifer Rose, Community Investment Advisor ConocoPhillips Alaska
to the overall wellbeing of Alaska’s communities is clear and quantifiable.
ConocoPhillips in the Community ConocoPhillips Alaska has, on average, contributed about $6.7 million annually to causes in Alaska since 2000, according to the company’s Community Investment Advisor Jennifer Rose. “We are honored to have invested millions of dollars in our state through nonprofit contributions over the years,” Rose says. “We have built strong relationships with hundreds of organizations in Alaska. The impact has been significant.” The pillars of philanthropy that guide ConocoPhillips Alaska’s giving efforts are education and youth, health and safety, natural resources, and others, such as civic programs, social services, and the arts. Much of this giving is done through the company’s annual community grants. “Alaska is very unique for ConocoPhillips Alaska community investment. We do have a really strong
focus on the communities where we live, work, and operate,” Rose says. “We are Alaskans who review all the grant requests that come in. We keep our ear to the ground to understand what the community needs.” The three-person community investment team reviews about 500 grant applications every year. The applications are received during May, June, and July through the company’s online portal. Once received, the applications are run through a rigorous, five-month evaluation process. “We put together a budget and we submit that to corporate, where it gets reviewed by all of our leadership team,” Rose says. “We find out in December how much we're able to invest in the state of Alaska, and we start dispersing funds in January.” The types of grants handed out run the gamut of needs from those addressing statewide issues to smaller community needs. “We get requests for boxes of pencils all the way up to a million dollar request, and every single one of those things is impactful,” Rose says. “Over the last
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few years, obviously, social services has required some extra attention—there's been a lot more need. So that section of the pie chart, if you will, has grown a little bit.” To be considered for a charitable contribution in the United States, an organization must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity, a governmental subdivision, or an accredited school or an organization within an accredited school system. Rose points out that recent state budget cuts to social services have not significantly swayed the type of charity work funded by ConocoPhillips Alaska. “A lot of the social service programs that we've supported, we've supported since the 1970s and the 1980s,” Rose says. “So there hasn't been a reactionary response to what's been happening in our communities. We try to make sure that we're keeping a baseline so they can keep their doors open; we're a consistent contributor rather than a reactionary fallback.” That said, BP selling its Alaska assets to Hilcorp and withdrawing
The employees of the oil and gas industry are also very active in Alaska communities, participating in charity efforts and sitting on local boards. ConocoPhillips Alaska
from the state may affect the ways in which ConocoPhillips is able to support Alaskans. “Everybody in the community is really aware of that very big change in our community,” Rose says. “I am not sure what will happen next year: we could get more requests, we could get bigger requests. We're not really
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sure what we'll see when we start receiving applications in May, June, and July.”
United Way Finds a Way One organization bracing itself for the impacts of BP’s exit is United Way of Anchorage, as BP has been the highest or second-highest annual contributor
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to the organization for years. United Way of Anchorage helps convene partners, partner agencies, volunteers, companies, and employees and combines those forces to tackle problems that no individual entity or segment can work on alone, Stalzer says. “For example, raising the graduation rate took the efforts of nonprofits and volunteers working together to achieve certain goals to turn that into a 20 point increase in our graduation rate,” Stalzer says, noting that United Way of Anchorage is also focused on financial stability for families and homelessness. She hopes that because of the direct relationships between BP employees and United Way of Anchorage—many of them decades old—those BP employees will take United Way of Anchorage up on its offer to continue to give and volunteer in their communities. Nonetheless, Stalzer expects to feel a fallout. BP was actively engaged in a structured approach to philanthropy in the community, providing corporate funds to United Way to help with community goals. “So BP has been, for many years, one of the most significant players in philanthropy as a whole for the state,” Stalzer says.
The UAA Integrated Science Building. ConocoPhillips Alaska
BP’s Legacy With BP selling its Alaska assets to privately-owned Hilcorp, questions remain about the long-term and shortterm impacts of the move on nonprofits and other organizations historically supported by BP. BP withdrawing from Alaska is anticipated to have far-reaching effects 48 | May 2020
in Alaska. Consider this: in 2018 BP donated $4 million to organizations throughout the state and its employees supported hundreds of education and community groups. The company’s philanthropy has ranged from summer engineering programs through UAA to scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Over its forty-plus years in Alaska, BP awarded more than $3.5 million to 860 graduating high school seniors as part of the Principals’ and Commissioner’s Scholarship Program, one of the longest-running initiatives of its kind in the state. In total, BP has given the University of Alaska system about $36 million, UAA Senior Development Officer for the College of Engineering Jayna Combs says. “Oil and gas has been our biggest donor for sure: Conoco and BP have probably donated the largest amounts to the college,” UAA Interim Dean for the College of Engineering Kenrick Mock says, noting that other engineering firms have given a lot in terms of time and effort. For roughly the last ten years BP has given between $100,000 and $120,000 annually to the Summer Engineering Academies, Combs says. “These donations have really allowed the Summer Engineering Academies to be successful as a program and to accomplish our mission, which is to not only offer these great engineeringthemed, hands-on educational summer camps but to do so for communities that have not always had access to those types of programs,” Summer Engineering Academies Director Joe Selmont says. “We can offer the camps at a super reduced rate thanks to BP.” BP made its final donation to the program this year. “They did that so we could have some gap funding so we could look for other funding sources in the coming year, which was really great of them,” Combs says. “They’ve been so impactful to our communities—not just the university but the entire state.” Nonetheless, in preparation for a vacuum of funding, the price for the program has been increased from $150 to $250. “Unless we can make up that funding
gap, the price will have to continue to increase, which I would say goes against the core mission of reaching those underserved populations,” Selmont says. While the MTA Foundation has already stepped up to help fill a portion of the funding gap, additional funding is still needed.
BP Energy Center Though many questions remain for nonprofits and communities that have benefited from BP’s longstanding tradition of generous giving, there is clarity about the future of the BP Alaska Energy Center. It was dedicated as a lasting gift to the state on February 11. “Of all the accomplishments we’ve had in Alaska, we believe this to be one of our most important. We are leaving the Energy Center here for future generations. We hope it serves as a reminder that community is what matters most,” BP Alaska President Janet Weiss says. The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) has been charged with taking over the management of the center, which opened in 2002 as an asset for nonprofits and educational organizations to host meetings and other activities. “We are so honored to be chosen to carry on BP’s philanthropic vision for the BP Energy Center,” ACF Board Chair Carol Gore says. “It is a gift to the entire nonprofit community and an extraordinary opportunity to amplify our mission to inspire the spirit of giving and connect people, organizations, and causes to strengthen Alaska’s communities now and forever.” Several years ago, the company created the BP Energy Center Fund with ACF. These funds will be used to help support the cost of operating the facility. “We will operate the BP Energy Center just as they have operated it for the last several years for at least the next twenty years,” ACF Vice President of Development and Communications Elizabeth Miller says. “We’re focused on making this transfer as smooth as possible, so that there will be no service interruption at the BP Energy Center.” It’s estimated that more than
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100,000 people and 600 community organizations have used the facility over the last twenty years. “We absolutely know the meaning of caring about our neighbors and the value of people coming together to solve problems. So we are excited to take this on for the nonprofits in Alaska,” Miller says.
ACF and Hilcorp Acquiring the BP Energy Center and taking on the management of the facilities is not the only change for ACF as BP exits the state and Hilcorp increases its presence. ACF is taking over administration of Hilcorp Alaska’s giving program, Miller confirms. “This is innovative news for philanthropy in Alaska, and a partnership we are very excited to begin,” ACF President and CEO Nina Kemppel says. “Hilcorp has a successful history of enhancing its social investment through the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to take that proven model and help Hilcorp expand its corporate giving to Alaska, beginning with $5 million over the next twelve months.” That anticipated level of giving represents an enormous spike in Hilcorp charity efforts. The company donated about $315,000 to Alaska charities in 2018. The Hilcorp Giving Program was previously being managed for all employees, including Alaskans, by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. However, moving forward more than 90 percent of Hilcorp employees will be based in the Last Frontier, so the company chose to partner with ACF, Miller explains. More than 400 funds will be transferred in April. The estimated 800plus new employees set to join Hilcorp as it expands its operations in Alaska will have new charitable funds opened with ACF when they are hired. Under the Hilcorp Giving Program, the company establishes a charitable fund for its employees with an initial gift of $2,500, according to an ACF news release. After that initial seed money, Hilcorp, like many organizations, offers annual matching on employee donations up to $2,000. Each employee is then able to direct 50 | May 2020
The BP Energy Center. Joshua Lowman
dollars to charities of their choice. Since the program’s inception in 2007, Hilcorp employees have gifted more than $15 million to US-based nonprofit organizations, the news release says. More than $5.8 million of that is to religious organizations. “It is an ongoing tool for the employees to do charitable giving,” Miller explains. With the funds being housed at ACF, Hilcorp employees will be able to take advantage of the organization’s user-friendly online portal, Miller says. Through the portal, workers will easily be able to manage their accounts and direct their gifts to charities anywhere in the United States that are in good standing with the IRS. “We also are working with Hilcorp to connect the nonprofits in Alaska with Hilcorp employees so that they can be more aware of [local] organizations to which they could direct their funds,” Miller says. “Their business philosophy is all about empowering employees to make decisions. So, we're working with them on their giving program to honor that business model and our mission of connecting people with causes that they care about.” Hilcorp Alaska Senior Vice President Dave Wilkins says he’s confident in ACF’s abilities to help Hilcorp employees invest in Alaska. “We are proud to have over 90 percent of our employees from Alaska, and we are proud to be in Alaska. There is no better organization than ACF to help our employees invest in Alaska,” Wilkins says. “Whether it is an after-school program for at-risk youth, their church, or a homeless shelter, we empower our employees to become lifelong philanthropists and determine how best they can help their communities.” The Hilcorp model for philanthropy is
significantly different than BP’s, which will undoubtedly have an impact on Alaska charities and nonprofits. “I think there definitely will be changes and adjustments that many nonprofits will have to make,” Miller says. “It really remains to be seen how big those adjustments will be, based on how Hilcorp employees choose to direct their funds.” Moriarty agrees that it’s hard to know what BP’s exit will mean for Alaska communities. “We don’t know what’s going to happen to corporate contributions,” Moriarty says. “But we do know that both companies have demonstrated commitment in the past, and I have no doubt that’s going to continue.”
Community and Industry— Giving Together The charity efforts of the oil and gas industry go beyond corporate donations. Employees put in thousands of volunteer hours every year, and many sit on various nonprofit boards to fulfill their civic duties. “In addition to the financial contributions, a lot of companies work with United Way to engage their employees and volunteerism throughout the community,” Stalzer says. “We have one big day a year called Day of Caring, which is when we see the most volunteerism.” Employees in the oil and gas sector are incredibly engaged with Day of Caring, Stalzer notes. “I've been in the nonprofit world for a long time here in Alaska. We have had to make many adjustments over the years as the landscape of the economy has changed because of oil and gas or other things,” Miller says. “I see this as another—very optimistically, very wonderful—opportunity for us to learn and to adjust.”
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Joshua Lowman
6381380 | iStockphoto
OIL & GAS 52 | May 2020
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OIL & GAS
How Will Big Oil Climate Pledges Affect Alaska? Climate change commitments promise to reduce carbon emissions and invest in carbon storage By Sam Friedman
A
carbon-neutral oil company would have sounded like an oxymoron a few decades ago. But in the last several months, two major companies announced ambitions to reduce their emissions and take steps to cancel out the effects of their remaining carbon footprint. They say their pledge applies to both emissions from producing fossil fuels and the emissions produced when consumers burn it. First came Repsol, a Spanish oil company that owns dozens of North Slope exploration blocks and reported the Horseshoe well discovery near Nuiqsut in 2017. Repsol announced its net-zero carbon plans in December. BP followed suit in February. BP made the carbon-neutral pledge only
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a few months after the company announced plans to leave Alaska, selling assets including the company’s dominant share of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. The companies don’t plan to stop producing oil, even by their 2050 deadline to become carbon neutral: they do, however, plan to focus on cleaner fuel sources.
The Quest for Low Carbon Oil Back in the ‘90s and early '00s major oil companies fought efforts to regulate greenhouse gasses and disputed the connection between fossil fuel combustion and climate change. A lot has changed in the last decade or so, at least in terms of corporate stance on the issue. Today most of the world’s
May 2020 | 53
OIL & GAS CEOs from the member companies of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative at the organization's 2019 annual meeting. OGCI
Alaska has a particularly low rate of flaring. Last year, the rate was 0.3 percent says Dave Roby, a senior petroleum engineer at the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission. major oil companies acknowledge the existence of climate change and the role in it that oil and gas plays. In 2014, a group of some of the largest corporate and state-owned fossil fuel companies created the Oil and Gas 54 | May 2020
Climate Initiative (OGCI). The member companies (which now include Alaska producers ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, BP, Repsol, and Eni) went on to explicitly recognize the climate change findings and goals of the 2016 Paris Agreement and call for putting a price on carbon emissions. The OGCI announced new carbon capture and carbon-intensity goals last September at its annual meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Summit in New York.
Carbon Capture Meeting Paris Agreement climate goals means keeping global greenhouse gas densities below levels that would cause catastrophic damage to life on earth. The climate goals call for reaching net-zero emissions in the developed world by 2050, the same target announced by BP and Repsol. Half of staying within a carbon dioxide budget means finding ways to emit less. The other part of the balance sheet is finding ways to remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. Growing more trees is one way to take carbon dioxide out of the
atmosphere and store it. But there are also mechanical ways: one method, carbon capture and storage, separates carbon dioxide from other gasses in power plant and factory smokestacks. The carbon dioxide is then injected deep underground so it doesn’t enter the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. Another approach is carbon capture and use, where the extra carbon dioxide is used to make products from plastic to biofuel. Unfortunately for Alaska, carbon capture projects tend to get funded mostly in locations with a greater density of emission sources because there are better economies of scale. The OGCI is investing in five carbon capture hub projects this year. The only US project is along the Gulf of Mexico near Houston, a site chosen to take advantage of a cluster of power plants and factories. But there has been research into carbon capture in Alaska. In 2013, a 200-page University of Alaska and Department of Defense study evaluated storing carbon dioxide from an Eielson Air Force Base power plant in underground coal seams or oil wells; however, the Eielson power plant was never built.
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Carbon Intensity Goals Well before it’s burned, a gallon of gasoline already has a carbon footprint. That’s because other fuels have to be burned to explore, drill for, refine, and transport the gasoline. These upstream carbon emissions are a significant part of the total carbon footprint. On average, about a fifth of the complete “well to wheel” carbon cost of oil comes from these costs, says Julien Perez, the vice president of strategy and policy at OGCI. The amount of carbon needed to produce oil or gas is known as its carbon intensity. Carbon intensity can vary widely between producers. In 2017, OGCI members produced oil and gas with an average carbon intensity of 24 kilograms of carbondioxide-equivalent-gas per barrel of oil energy, according to the organization’s annual report. The OGCI also reported that this baseline number was less than half the industry-wide carbonintensity average. The OGCI companies are already ahead of the industry in reducing emissions because they got a head start, says Perez. Large oil and gas companies have been working to reduce their carbon intensities for decades and are now collaborating. “The collective actions we conduct through OGCI, to share best practices and incentivize their implementation, allow [them] to further reduce their footprint,” he says.
Back in the ‘90s and early '00s major oil companies fought efforts to regulate greenhouse gasses and disputed the connection between fossil fuel combustion and climate change… Today most of the world’s major oil companies acknowledge the existence of climate change and the role that oil and gas plays.
Are Carbon Goals Part of BP's Decision to Leave? BP, the largest oil company to have made a carbon-neutral pledge so far, shook up the Alaska oil and gas industry last August when it announced plans to sell its Alaska assets to Hilcorp Energy Company for $5.6 billion. Why did BP make the move? A few different narratives have emerged. One is a traditional return on investment explanation. In a September conference call organized by JPMorgan Chase, www.akbizmag.com
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US Senator Lisa Murkowski, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sees a place for carbon capture at Alaska’s coal and natural gas power plants, as well as on the North Slope, says Grace Jang, a spokeswoman for the committee.
OIL & GAS Flames shoot from oil processing facilities at Prudhoe Bay in Deadhorse. troutnut | iStockphoto
Half of staying within a carbon dioxide budget means finding ways to emit less. The other part of the balance sheet is finding ways to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. BP’s then-CEO Bob Dudley said that BP wanted to prioritize other developments that have more growth potential. But during the same call, Dudley also said that BP managers have discussed leaving the company’s most carbonintensive projects to meet climate goals, though he declined to mention 56 | May 2020
which specific projects. "We are certain we've got a path, it may not be linear, to being consistent with Paris goals," Dudley said in the call, as reported by Bloomberg News. "There are going to be projects that we don't do, things that we might have done in the past. Certain kinds of oil, for example, that has a different carbon footprint." Asked about the role of Alaska in BP’s climate initiatives, BP Alaska spokeswoman Megan Baldino declined to comment, referring questions to BP’s website. “It’s not our story to tell any more,” she says.
Flaring and Venting While the total carbon intensity of Alaska’s oil and gas industry is hard to determine, there’s one clear bright spot—or more precisely, a dark spot: Alaska’s gas flaring record. Flaring is the combustion of natural gas at an oil well. Flaring gas doesn’t produce usable energy but can be necessary to relieve pressure and prevent a well blowout. In some places, oil producers flare gas for long periods of time when there is no infrastructure to bring the gas to market. In 2018, 1.85 percent of natural gas taken from the ground in the United States was lost to either flaring gas or
venting it, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Flaring was especially notable in North Dakota that year, where 17 percent of natural gas withdrawals were flared. Alaska has a particularly low rate of flaring. Last year, the rate was 0.3 percent says Dave Roby, a senior petroleum engineer at the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC). “Over the past decade it’s bounced between 0.2 and 0.5 percent,” he says. “It’s been below 1 percent for quite a long time.” Alaska’s laws keep the amount of gas lost to flaring and venting down. With only a few exceptions, producers need to get approval from the AOGCC before flaring. Strict flaring rules date back to the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay. To protect the state’s share of oil revenue, the state legislature created the AOGCC, a quasi-judicial body empowered to enforce regulations that prohibit the waste of oil and gas. As oil and gas companies continue to work on lowering their carbon intensity, flaring is an obvious target. Flaring is a significant source of emissions and, unlike many other sources of emissions in the supply chain, is visible and already monitored.
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Behind the Scenes Support Support services companies instrumental in keeping oil workers safe, fed, and comfortable
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By Amy Newman
58 | May 2020
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spending weeks at a time away from loved ones, work in the oil field would come to a standstill without the support services industry.
Powering Exploration Oil and gas extraction requires equipment. And that equipment—drill rigs, turbines, fans, or handheld power tools—runs on power and fuel. Arctic Energy helps power oil fields with heat and power energy solutions and specialty generators, which provide “an extremely clean source of power, no matter what fuel [it] runs on,” President and CEO Greg Porter says. “Mostly when we serve the oil and gas companies directly, it’s in power on things like offshore oil rigs that don’t have anybody on them anymore, so they need a generator there that doesn’t need maintenance,” he says. “There’s a number of sites out there that aren’t producing, but you can’t just let them go dark because it’s a shipping lane.” The generators ensure foghorns, lights, and other critical items remain operational, he adds. For onshore operations, Porter says
the generators are used “where power’s either hard to get from a utility because of expense or it’s unreliable.” Support services companies utilize Arctic Energy’s services as well. “In order to really serve the oil and gas industry, service companies like Little Red Services or Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, they need high reliability at their automotive shops, aircraft hangars, man camps, things like that,” Porter says. “They also need to cut their energy spend,” and Arctic Energy’s equipment helps them meet those goals. When electrical power sources aren’t an option, fuel keeps things running. “It’s amazing all the little pieces of equipment that are needed to run a project that runs on fuel,” Lewis says. “You couldn’t imagine how much equipment up there requires fuel.” Colville provides fuel to operations across the North Slope and Alaska’s Arctic region from its 10-acre tank farm in Prudhoe Bay, which stores approximately 5 million gallons, Lewis says. “I think Colville is most noted for fuel
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L
ooking behind the scenes of the oil and gas industry, it quickly becomes apparent that it requires a lot of moving parts to keep things running smoothly. Businesses that offer support services to the oil and gas industry play an integral role in keeping the oil field operators supplied with the fuel, equipment, and parts needed to do the heavy work of exploration and extraction. They are also instrumental in helping to keep oil workers safe, fed, and comfortable while in the field. The relationship between oil and gas companies and support services companies is a symbiotic one, says Cathleen Lewis, director of business development for Colville, whose family of companies provide essential supplies and services—including fuel, solid waste management, towing, and housing—to oil fields across Alaska. “There are many aspects to the activities that happen up there,” she explains. “It’s really fascinating.” From transporting drill rigs and supplies via land, air, and sea to creating a home away from home for workers
OIL & GAS
Colville’s fuel facility in Deadhorse has almost 5 million gallons of bulk fuel storage, including ultra-low sulphur diesel, unleaded, Arctic heating fuel, and jet fuel. Judy Patrick Photography
delivery,” she says. “It’s certainly the largest infrastructure that we have. We have the Dalton Highway fleet that’s based out of Fairbanks, which has thirtytwo tractor trailers and almost sixty fuel tankers, and then we’ve got another fleet in Prudhoe Bay that delivers across the North Slope.” Colville also transports fuel via barge when demand requires it. Last August, Lewis says, Colville hauled 3.5 million gallons of fuel via a Crowley barge that then served as the “mother ship” to smaller barges that filled up and delivered the fuel to shore. Even the best equipment is useless if it’s ill-suited for Alaska’s extreme environment. That’s why many support services companies emphasize equipment that’s been tested, modified, or even specifically designed to operate reliably and efficiently, no matter the conditions. “Everything we do, there’s competitors that provide a similarly functional product, but it’s all made in the Lower 48, and none of it is made to operate at -40°F,” says Nick Ferree, vice president of Equipment Source, Inc. (ESI), which supplies Alaska-made and -tested heaters, generators, and pumps to the oil industry. “So a lot of 60 | May 2020
stuff breaks because it’s never been tested in cold weather, or it’s never been operated wearing large mittens. We realized we could do this better [and] started building our own heaters here in Fairbanks.”
Stocking the Fields Alaska’s winter supply chain experiences snafus even when freight is headed to the state’s larger, centrallylocated cities. Delivering to more remote locations, where weather is unpredictable, temperatures are routinely in the sub-zero range, and the roads are literally made of ice, poses an even bigger logistical challenge. “Getting stuff to customers is challenging,” Ferree says. “A lot of our equipment gets flown out on planes, put out on barges, or slung out on helicopters on remote sites. [In winter] you don’t just get to hitch it behind a truck or put it on a Lynden truck; you put it on a flight.” The cost of transporting essentials to the oil fields is a constant consideration. Support services try to minimize those costs by front-loading camps with equipment, food, and other supplies before the winter season hits, decreasing transport options and
increasing costs. “There are some locations that are so remote we try to get as much dry goods as we can in on a barge, then we supplement some fresh and frozen food as needed,” says Jenny Dickinson, operations manager at Five Star Oilfield Services, which provides remote catering, hospitality, and camp services to platforms in Cook Inlet, Trading Bay, Valdez, and West MacArthur. “But you know, it’s expensive, so we try to limit the flights as much as we can and do it by barge.” Even when transporting supplies via truck is possible, it requires Alaska ingenuity. Colville modifies its Dalton Highway fleet with front and rear-facing cameras and heavy-duty running boards to ensure driver safety and reduce the potential for delivery delays, Lewis says. Ensuring that the right supplies are available is another challenge that requires something of a balancing act. “Logistics is probably our biggest challenge, and when I say that, it kind of encompasses a lot of stuff,” Ferree says. “Keeping inventory on the shelf for our customers is challenging.” Forecast too high, he explains, and suppliers can be left with too much
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Comforts of Home Providing oil and gas workers with the creature comforts of home may seem like a minor detail, but with the majority of workers in the field for a minimum week on/week off schedule, ensuring that camp is a home away from home becomes a priority. Colville operates Brooks Camp, a 334-bed man camp on the Slope that offers single and double occupancy rooms, Lewis says. Hospitality services, including housekeeping and catering,
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“So a lot of stuff breaks because it’s never been tested in cold weather, or it’s never been operated wearing large mittens. We realized we could do this better [and] started building our own heaters here in Fairbanks.” Nick Ferree, VP, Equipment Source, Inc.
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are outsourced to ICE Services “because that’s their specialty.” Each room has a private bath, high-speed internet access, laptop desk and recliner, and a 32-inch flat-screen television equipped with Direct TV. It sounds like a typical hotel, but Lewis says the camp is more than that. “What comes with the room up there—and this is where it’s different from a hotel—is three hot meals a day,” she explains. “If the crew comes back late, they can call the kitchen. There’s a 24-hour spike room that has snacks, drinks, things like that, and a workout facility.” Workers also have access to laundry facilities, a rec room with pool tables, heated smoke room, dining hall, and a conference room equipped with televisions, computers, and printers.” Jenny Dickinson agrees that making camp as comfortable and homelike as possible is important, and food is a big part of that equation. “Food is a big part of morale,” she says. “That’s what they’re looking for out there. We have our cooks talk to them and find out what they want. We try to
inventory that they can’t sell. Too low, and oil companies can be left waiting weeks, possibly months, until a part can be ordered, shipped, and delivered. To alleviate that potential problem, Ferree says ESI tries to stock its shelves with products that have multiple applications. “The financial implications are large for us, but missing it is a challenge, too,” he says. “The seasons are so short, so kind of predicting what our customers are going to need, having it on the shelf, and being able to quickly turn it around is very important.”
OIL & GAS Employees at Equipment Source load an ES700 heater, designed and manufactured by ESI in Fairbanks, onto a flatbed truck for delivery to the North Slope. Todd Paris | Equipment Source, Inc.
mix it up for them and give options, to keep them happy that way.” Meals can range from set or themed menus, like Luau night, to made-toorder restaurant style meals, depending on the camp’s population. “If a population’s low enough, sometimes it’s more of a custom chef, made-to-order in a nice restaurant,” says Jake Dickinson, HSE manager for Five Star Oilfield. “These guys need to eat good because they’re busy getting oil and gas out of the ground; they just want to rely on good food and good morale and clean sheets, a real clean facility.” Colville operates the Brooks Range Supply Store, which sells electrical, plumbing and industrial supplies, tools, and sundries and lets workers pick-up essentials they may have left behind at home or to supplement what the oil companies provide. “It’s kind of like a general store,” Lewis says. “Upstairs is the Prudhoe Bay General Store, where you can get food and snacks and clothes and Arctic gear and things like that. Downstairs we’re an Ace Hardware distributor as well as a Napa distributor.”
requires an examination of past and current usage in order to extrapolate needs for the upcoming season, as well as collaboration with the individual companies.
Planning Ahead
“A lot of the plans are published for what’s coming up, but when we look at them, we say, ‘Hey, this season you needed 5 million gallons, next season it looks like you’re going to need significantly more. We’re planning our
A big part of the support service industry’s work involves forecasting the oil companies’ needs and planning accordingly in order to minimize disruptions. That forecast 62 | May 2020
“These guys need to eat good because they’re busy getting oil and gas out of the ground; they just want to rely on good food and good morale and clean sheets, a real clean facility.” Jake Dickinson HSE Manager, Five Star Oilfield
forecast and our fuel acquisition for next year, we need your numbers so we can figure that out,’” Lewis says of the conversations Colville has with the industry. “For us that’s a huge logistics plan that we have to do.” Thinking ahead to what other services oil companies might need, or adapting products to function in Alaska’s harsh climate, is another way the support services industry keeps the oil fields running smoothly. “Some of the most fun projects we work on are when an oil company brings us something that works really well in the Texas oil field, but it’s caked in ice,” Ferree says. “We’ll work with them and develop something that will meet that need and operate and function well in extreme cold. So, we’re constantly working on stuff like that.” And it means making life as easy as possible for the oil and gas companies so they can focus on drilling and exploration. “We’ll arrange all the employees, we’ll arrange the food—any kind of beddings and linens and pans to cook,” Jenny Dickinson says. “Basically [the oil companies] just call us and we’ll get the entire camp up and running.” Perhaps the biggest benefit support services companies provide is an understanding of what it takes to live and work in Alaska and a workforce committed to seeing the oil and gas industry thrive. “Alaska is a unique place to operate, so [oil companies] are looking for suppliers, vendors, and partners that understand the climate,” Ferree says. “You get a sales guy from Montana trying to sell them a piece of equipment, they don’t know the equipment needs a block heater to make it run. Those are things we understand here. We understand their logistical challenges. Those are the things that customers are looking for that we try very hard to provide.” Jenny Dickinson agrees. “Our employees are extremely hardworking and dedicated,” she says. “They sacrifice missing many holidays and special moments to make sure that the oil field can continue smooth operations. They are truly the heart of the oil field.”
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
What it takes to keep the oil flowing By Sam Friedman
T
he Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) has already outlived initial expectations by more than ten years, though today it runs at less than a quarter of its peak volume. The pipeline is still in fundamentally sound shape and has a few maintenance properties that would be remarkable if it was an old car: the pipeline requires a smaller maintenance staff to keep it running than it used to, and it’s gotten safer and less leaky as it has aged. Part of the reason it has aged so well is that Alaska’s oil pipeline is a highly-regulated piece of industrial infrastructure owned by some of the largest corporations on the planet. But as the pipeline’s owners review how much to invest in keeping the pipeline running into a sixth decade and beyond, TAPS’ maintenance quandaries sound familiar to anyone who’s ever
64 | May 2020
had to decide how much to invest in an aging, but much-beloved vehicle.
Original Steel TAPS was built in the late ‘70s when the most popular car in America was the Oldsmobile Cutlass. Like an old car, the pipeline is primarily made of steel, most of which is still in place. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company workers regularly inspect the pipe looking for signs of corrosion. When they find it, the solution usually doesn’t require replacing the line. Workers add a sleeve to the damaged line to reinforce it, says Betsy Haines, Alyeska’s senior vice president for operations and maintenance. Haines grew up in Anchorage during the pipeline construction boom and has worked as an engineer and manager at Alyeska for more than thirty years.
The company tries to head off damage through frequent inspection and cleaning with the intent of heading off future repair work. "The care and maintenance that we put into it over time has helped extend its life," Haines says. Nearly all of the more-than 100,000 sections of elevated and buried pipe are original, she says. The largest new segment is an 8.5 mile reroute north of the Brooks Range built in 1991 to replace a section of corroded pipe. But while the body of the pipeline hasn’t changed much, looking under the hood one sees lots of shiny replacement parts, most notably inside the pumping stations. The original turbine-powered pumps were replaced with electric pumps during a major pipeline system revamp called “strategic reconfiguration” that was launched in 2001 and cost more
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Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
OIL & GAS
TAPS Turns 44
"We have answered some of the uncertainties about how water and wax will perform in our pipeline. Now we are confident on our public website that we can operate down to 200,000 barrels per day. I am confident that if we wanted to, we could go even lower.” Betsy Haines, Senior VP for Operations and Maintenance, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Maintenance Workforce It famously took a workforce of nearly 30,000 people at the peak of construction to build TAPS, creating a boomtown environment along the route. While most workers returned home or found other jobs after construction, ongoing work to keep the pipeline running smoothly remains sizable, even as it’s gotten slightly smaller in recent years. Alyeska’s labor force averaged about 1,000 people through much of the pipeline’s history and the company often ranked among Alaska’s ten largest private-sector employers, according to Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development numbers. In September 2018, the business announced it was reducing its workforce by 10 percent as part of a reorganization, and today Alyeska employs about 740 people in Alaska. At the height of the summer construction season, a contract force of 600 to 800 additional people also work on the pipeline system, for a total workforce of about 1,300 people, says Haines. Alyeska employees do most of the equipment and engineering work that’s directly related to the pipe, pumps, and operation of the Valdez terminal. That leaves many supporting roles for contractors, including security, work on small pipes within www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
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OIL & GAS
than $600 million. Although a major expenditure, the project represented a small fraction of the original pipeline construction price tag of $8 billion. Some pump stations have closed entirely. As oil flows decreased, Alyeska mothballed no-longer necessary pump stations and repurposed some into stations for adding heat or cleaning devices to the line. The pipeline had eight pump stations at startup and ten at the height of production. Today four pump stations remain in operation. The next change is planned for August at Pump Station 7, north of Fairbanks. Pump Station 7 hasn’t been needed for pumping for some time but found a second life in the low-volume era adding heat to the line. The warming is no longer needed because of heatadding equipment upstream, so this summer crews will direct the line to bypass the pump station.
OIL & GAS
“What we’re doing with the data now is game-changing from what it used to be… In the early days of pipeline inspection we didn’t used to be able to process the millions and millions of indications we get in the pipe fast enough or efficiently enough to really leverage the data.”
Two Baker Hughes field service engineers inspect a magnetic flux leakage (MFL) smart pig prior to deployment. MFL pigs are an important tool for detecting weaknesses in a pipeline.
Stuart Clouston Global Product Line Manager Pipeline Inspection Baker Hughes
facilities, and maintenance of the TAPS right-of-way corridor. Today some of Alyeska’s largest contractors are subsidiaries of Alaska Native corporations: Doyon Security (part of Doyon Limited) provides security along the pipeline corridor, and AES-Houston Contracting Company (an Arctic Slope Regional Corporation subsidiary) provides baseline maintenance. Another major contractor is Louisiana shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore, which is Alyeska’s spill prevention and response contractor.
Hilcorp, BP, and the Pipeline TAPS is poised for a significant transition in 2020 as the largest share of its ownership changes hands under the BP/Hilcorp deal announced in August 2019. One potential challenge is that Hilcorp will need to demonstrate it can finance major infrastructure work and disaster response for the pipeline, as well as the remediation of the pipeline when it reaches the end of its life. Hilcorp is 66 | May 2020
Baker Hughes
a much smaller company than BP, and as a privately-held company it doesn’t have to disclose financial information to the public, though state and federal regulators overseeing the proposed deal have access to that information. Alyeska was formed in 1970 to design, build, and maintain TAPS, which is currently owned by four oil company subsidiaries: BP Pipelines (Alaska), 48 percent; ConocoPhillips Transportation Alaska, 29 percent; ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, 21 percent; and Unocal Pipeline Company, 1 percent. Under BP’s plan to sell its Alaska assets to Hilcorp, BP’s share of TAPS will transfer to Hilcorp-affiliated pipeline company Harvest Alaska, says Alyeska spokeswoman Katie Pesznecker. With the change, Harvest Alaska will have a seat on the TAPS Owners Committee, joining leaders from ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil.
most turbulent. In the first five years of operation, more than 1,000 barrels of oil spilled per year along the pipeline system. The pipeline averaged dozens of reportable spills annually in those early years, according to Alyeska's pipeline factbook. But in the last twenty years, it has averaged fewer than three reportable spills each year and hasn’t had a 1,000-plus barrel spill since 2010. Through bypass piping, Alyeska can handle both incidents and routine maintenance without shutting off the flow of oil for long. The pipeline sometimes goes years without shutting down. Even as the line has undergone pump overflows, wildfires, bullet punctures, and earthquakes (including a magnitude 7.9 in 2002), the oil has not stopped flowing for even as long as a week and has only had to shut down for more than three days a handful of times.
A Safer Pipeline
Maintenance from the Inside Out
Unlike an aging car, TAPS has gotten less prone to oil spills as it’s aged. The pipeline’s first decade was its
Pipeline maintenance workers today get detailed diagnostic information from
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instead happening at data centers, where computers are getting better at spotting patterns in the magnetic flux readings that correspond to problems with the line. “What we’re doing with the data now is game-changing from what it used to be,” Clouston says. “In the early days of pipeline inspection we didn’t used to be able to process the millions and millions of indications we get in the pipe fast enough or efficiently enough to really leverage the data. “Now instead of one desktop
computer you can have fifty desktop computers working on the same thing,” he says, speaking by analogy to explain the explosion of data analysis power. Both the increase in resolution and the improvements in data analysis help pipeline managers look farther into the future to identify possible failure points. “[In-line inspection programs] identify both immediate threats along with potential future issues. It's really a proactive process to make sure you catch things before they become an
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the inside of the pipe by periodically running sensors down the line. Pipeline cleaning devices called “pigs” have been a part of pipeline maintenance since the early days of the oil industry. Alyeska primarily uses orange foam cleaning pigs in TAPS. As they travel, these pigs clean out deposits of water and paraffin wax. Without frequent cleaning, these deposits would become habitats for metal-corroding microbes. Alyeska runs cleaning pigs about once per week. But pigging isn’t just about cleaning. Alyeska started using a completely new kind of pig in 1988: instrument pigs, which are also known as smart pigs. Instead of collecting debris, smart pigs collect data about where the pipe is corroded or dented. Now, federal regulators require pipeline operators to inspect their lines with smart pigs. One style of instrument pig looks like a cross between a vacuum cleaner and a rocket ship. It works by analyzing the field generated by an onboard magnet in the steel pipeline. These Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) pigs are particularly good at detecting corrosion and geometric problems like dents. A different type of smart pig uses ultrasound to specialize in a third type of pipeline weakness: cracking. Unlike cleaning pigs, MFL pigs aren’t run through the pipe very often. Houston-based oil field service company Baker Hughes runs MFL tests on TAPS on a three-year rotation. The smart pigs collect an enormous amount of data as they pass through the pipe: scanning the inside of the 4-foot diameter pipe between Prudhoe and Valdez is the equivalent of scanning every blade of grass on the surface of more than 800 football fields. Today’s smart pigs carry as much as a terabyte of data onboard. MFL technology has been around since the `60s, and MFL pigs have advanced in incremental steps with better quality sensors and data storage, something like the difference between a standard and high definition television, says Stuart Clouston, the Calgary-based in-line inspection product line leader for Baker Hughes. In the last five years, some of the most important advancements in pipeline inspections have happened far from the pipelines themselves,
OIL & GAS An elevated section of TAPS; almost all the sections of the 800-mile pipeline are original to the 1974-1977 construction. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
issue,” Clouston says. “That’s why most recent developments increase the resolution of the tools. We don’t want smaller and smaller things to get away.”
Flyovers and Line Walks New technology is also shaping the way Alyeska surveys the outside of the pipeline. Applications for unmanned aerial vehicles have proliferated in the last few years. An early adaptation for unmanned aerial vehicles was depth-of-cover studies. Instead of sending crews on riverboats to inspect remote sections of buried pipe threatened by erosion, Alyeska can now view these spots from air. "It's improved the speed, it's improved the quality, and it's improved the safety so you don't have to have people out there doing that kind of work,” Haines says. “There are probably more applications in the years ahead.” One possible application is longrange drone surveys. In 2019, UAF researchers conducted the first FAAapproved beyond-line-of-sight drone flight in the United States. The flight tested both airspace safety and the use of drones for pipeline inspections. A small quadcopter flew along a threemile section of the pipeline north of Fairbanks, relying on its own sensors for navigation. Another type of drone used by Alyeska is an underwater vehicle that inspects the pipeline during floods. A particularly large breakup flood of the Sagavanirktok River completely covered the Dalton Highway on the North Slope in 2015. But the pipeline—which is elevated in this section—didn’t sustain significant damage. Even as technology gives Alyeska new tools for monitoring the pipeline, direct human inspection remains 68 | May 2020
important. An in-depth inspection known as the “line walk” takes place over the entire 800-mile corridor each summer by teams of workers on foot. Types of pipeline issues that have been observed by line walkers include damage from running water, vehicles, stray bullets, and even bird beaks, Haines says. The year-overyear records from past line walks give Alyeska a detailed look at how the pipeline has changed over time.
Forty More Years? The actual date that the last barrel of oil will flow through the pipeline is a matter of considerable debate and litigation. Various expert estimates that have been made public in the last decade give the pipeline anywhere from twelve to more than thirty years of life left. A low-end forecast previously used by Alyeska projected the pipeline would stop running around 2032, based on the physical challenges of running the pipeline at flow rates below 300,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, an internal BP study cited in a 2010 state court decision estimated the pipeline could remain viable at daily throughputs at 100,000 barrels or lower and could operate well beyond 2049. Of course, predictions about the pipeline’s longevity have been wrong before. The pipeline was originally expected to operate for thirty-five years, which means operations would have ceased in 2007. Why has it lasted so much longer? The pipeline’s lifespan has grown in part because Alyeska engineers have determined that the pipeline can run at lower volumes than previously expected.
"We have answered some of the uncertainties about how water and wax will perform in our pipeline," Haines says. “Now we are confident… that we can operate down to 200,000 barrels per day. I am confident that if we wanted to, we could go even lower.” The pipeline’s life expectancy has also extended because of the expansion of North Slope drilling. The Prudhoe Bay oil field was originally estimated at 9.6 billion barrels of oil. Growth at Prudhoe and at subsequent North Slope oil discoveries (along with new technologies for recovering oil) have greatly expanded the amount of total crude TAPS can bring to market. As of early 2020, more than 18 billion barrels of oil had flowed through the pipeline from both Prudhoe and subsequent North Slope oil fields. Converted to gasoline, that’s enough fuel to drive a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass the distance of the equator 300 million times. Part of the pipeline’s future is beyond Alyeska’s control and will depend on whether new oil fields come online upstream, including proposed developments in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. Another part of the pipeline’s future will depend on the pipeline’s minimum flow rate. That will likely be an economics question as much as an engineering one. Alyeska’s plans for operating at low flow rates involve a construction project: building a series of heat systems along the pipe to keep the crude oil warm enough. Ultimately, the pipeline’s owners will have to ask themselves the same question that any vehicle owner asks when facing a big repair bill for an old car: “Is it worth it?”
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OIL & GAS
Oil & Gas Directory EXPLORATION/PRODUCTION BLUE CREST ALASKA OPERATING ANDREW BUCHANAN, VP AK 3301 C St., Ste. 202 Anchorage, AK 99503 BlueCrestEnergy.com 907-754-9550 Oil and gas exploration.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2014 |24/15
BOREALIS ALASKA OIL DAVID PFEIFFER, CFO 560 E. 34th St., Ste. 200 Anchorage, AK 99503 nordaqenergy.com 907-646-9315
Natural gas exploration, Cook Inlet Basin north end of Kenai Peninsula expected to last 30 Years. Offices in Anchorage and Kenai.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2009/2009 | 3/2
CONOCOPHILLIPS ALASKA JOE MARUSHACK, PRES. 700 G St., PO Box 100360 Anchorage, AK 99510 conocophillipsalaska.com rebecca.a.boys@conocophillips.com 907-276-1215
An independent exploration and production company. We are Alaska's largest oil producer and have been a leader in oil and gas exploration and development in the state for more than fifty Years. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1952/1952 |10,400/1,100
ENI PETROLEUM LORIS TEALDI, PRES./CEO 3800 Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 300 Anchorage, AK 99503 907-865-3300
Eni is an integrated energy company with a presence in 71 countries and more than 35,000 employees. Eni operates in oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1926/2006 | 35,000/300
EXXONMOBIL ALASKA DARLENE GATES, PRODUCTION MGR. PO Box 196601 Anchorage, AK 99519 exxonmobil.com/alaska 907-561-5331
ExxonMobil is the largest holder of discovered gas resources and the second largest oil producer in Alaska. The company operates the Point Thomson facility on the North Slope to produce natural gas condensate. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1870/1954 | 71,000/78
GLACIER OIL & GAS PHIL ELLIOTT, PRESIDENT & CFO 188 W Northern Lights Blvd., Ste. 510 Anchorage, AK 99503 www.glacieroil.com 907-334-6745 Exploration and production.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2009/2009 | 65/65
HILCORP ALASKA DAVID WILKINS, SR. VP PO Box 244027 Anchorage, AK 99524 70 | May 2020
hilcorp.com mediamail@hilcorp.com 907-777-8300
Oil and gas operator/producer. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2012 | 2,100/580
OIL SEARCH BRUCE DINGEMAN, EVP/PRES. AK PO Box 240927 Anchorage, AK 99524 oilsearch.com 907-375-4600
Among the top three oil and gas lease holders on Alaska’s North Slope and operator of the Pikka Unit located east of the Colville River and seven miles northeast of Nuiqsut. Oil Search expects plateau production from Pikka of about 135,000 BOPD. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1929/2018 | 1,300/160
SERVICES, SUPPORT, SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT ACUREN FRANK NOBLE, REG. MGR. AK 7910 King St. Anchorage, AK 99518 acuren.com tthorson@acuren.com 907-569-5000
Materials engineering, nondestructive examination, and integrity management for the oil and gas, power, mining, transportation, and construction industries.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1976/2002 | 5,000/18
ADVANCED SUPPLY CHAIN INTERNATIONAL CHRISTINE HOPKINS, PRES. 2525 Gambell St., Ste. 405 Anchorage, AK 99503 ascillc.com sales@ascillc.com 907-345-2724
Provide supply chain management services specialized in asset intensive industries (oil and gas, mining, energy, utilities, among others). This includes managed services and BPO solutions. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1999/1999 | 125/90
AECOM BILL CRAIG, SR. MGR./OFFICE LEAD 3900 C St., Ste. 403 Anchorage, AK 99503 aecom.com 907-562-3366
AECOM Alaska is a team of engineers, scientists, planners, and support staff providing Arctic-smart engineering and environmental services for the complete project life-cycle from permitting for air, water, soils and solid waste to planning and design.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1904/1948 | 87,000/45
AFOGNAK LEASING MATT THORPE, COO AFOGNAK NATIVE CORPORATION 3909 Arctic Blvd., Ste. 500 Anchorage, AK 99503 afognakleasing.com jarlington@afognak.com 907-222-9500
Lease and sell temporary and permanent remote
camp and workforce housing facilities, portable offices, and oil field support equipment. Build to suit mancamp and workforce housing facilities. Provide camp relocation, operations, and management services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2004/2004 | 28/28
AHTNA ENVIRONMENTAL TIM FINNIGAN, PRES. 110 W. 38th Ave., Ste. 200B Anchorage, AK 99503 aeiak.com 907-644-0760
Specializes in the execution of time-sensitive, complex, and multifaceted environmental, engineering, construction, and professional services projects for government and commercial clients.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2010/2010 | 187/71
AIRGAS, AN AIR LIQUIDE CO. BRIAN BENSON, AREA VP 6415 Arctic Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99518 airgas.com douglas.hokanson@airgas.com 907-562-2080
Airgas—an industrial supplier with 65 Years of experience in the state. Gas-bulk or packaged, machines-sales, rent, or repair, welding consumables, or safety; we know Alaska and can help get your project delivered on time and under budget.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1902/1955 | -/62
AIRPORT EQUIPMENT RENTALS JERRY SADLER, OWNER/PRES. 1285 Van Horn Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99707 airportequipmentrentals.com aer@aer-inc.net 907-456-2000
AER has the largest and most diverse fleet across Alaska. With six locations providing rentals, sales, and service for the construction and oil and gas industries. AER has the expertise, inventory, and dedication to meet any of your equipment needs.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1986/1986 | 107/107
AK SUPPLY RONALD SMITH, PRES./CEO 8000 King St. Anchorage, AK 99518 aksupply.net Bob@AKsupply.com 907-562-3422
Engineered and production solutions, valve actuation, HP iron, piping, pipeline saddles/ hangers, corrosion mitigation, Flo-control, valve lubricants/equipment, engineered composite docks, rig mats, towers, modules, and all things oil and gas related. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1991/1991 | 8/8
ALASKA AIRLINES BRAD TILDEN, CHMN./CEO AK AIR GROUP 3600 Old International Airport Rd. Anchorage, AK 99502 alaskaair.com 907-266-7200
Alaska Airlines and regional carrier Horizon Air provide passenger and cargo service to 115 destinations in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and the Lower 48. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1932/1932 | 23,000/1,800
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
Commercial and government UST/AST fuel tank cleaning; fuel polishing; purging and decommissioning; hazard/non-hazardous waste disposal; vac truck services; confined space entry; specializing in remote location services.
PO Box 92688 Anchorage, AK 99509 alaskamaterials.com john@alaskamaterials.com 907-290-8031
Alaska Materials is a “direct ship” wholesale construction materials supply company. We serve all industries including oil, power, LNG, mining, marine, seafood, federal, state, tribal, and village projects. We specialize in full truckloads.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2017/2017 | 5+/1+
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2013/2013 | 4/4
ALASKA COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP MATTHEW L GREER, PRES. 3324 Koba Way Fairbanks, AK 99709 alaskacdg.com acdshops@alaska.net 907-457-1861
ALASKA OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION KARA MORIARTY, PRES./CEO 121 W. Fireweed Ln., #207 Anchorage, AK 99503 aoga.org info@aoga.org 907-272-1481
Alaska oil and gas industry trade association.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1966/1966 | 4/4
ALASKA ROTEQ KEVIN LAURIN, PRES. 2051 Foundry Way Wasilla, AK 99654 akroteq.com info@akroteq.com 907-376-0550
Machine shop work, pump repairs, valve repairs, welding and coatings. Distributor for numerous pump and valve companies, Flowserve mechanical seals, and Ingersoll Rand air compressors. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1993/1993 | 26/26
ALASKA SAFETY ALLIANCE CARI-ANN CARTY, EXEC. DIR. 2600 Cordova St., Ste. 105
General contractor located in Fairbanks specializing in design/builds. Wood and metal framed industrial buildings. Has space for lease for oil/gas semi-haulers looking for affordable/ secure/clean warehouse. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1997/1997 | 10/10
ALASKA DIRECTIONAL BILLY LONG, PRES./CEO 200 E. Commercial Dr. Palmer, AK 99645 alaskadirectional.com akdirectional@alaskadirectional.com 907-357-9015
Horizontal directional drilling, trenching, plowing, underground utility installation, telecom installation, Fiber Optic installation/splicing, communication towers.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2012 | 115/115
ALASKA DREAMS MEINI HUSER, PRES. 2081 Van Horn Rd., Ste. 2 Fairbanks, AK 99701 alaskadreamsinc.com sales@alaskadreamsinc.com 907-455-7712
Design, sales, and construction of fabric covered steel building and pre-engineered metal buildings. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1994/1994 | 30/30
ALASKA ENERGY SERVICES DIANE BACHMAN, PRES./OWNER PO Box 240708 Anchorage, AK 99524 alaskaenergyservices.com Diane.b@alaskaenergyservices.com 907-632-1180
Oil and gas, all leasing, telecommunications.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2010/2010 | 2/2
ALASKA MARINE LINES KEVIN ANDERSON, PRES. 660 Western Dr. Anchorage, AK 99501 lynden.com/aml information@lynden.com 907-339-5150
Alaska Marine Lines is a marine transportation company providing barge service between Seattle, Alaska, and Hawaii. We offer regularly scheduled service to Southeast Alaska, Central Alaska, and Hawaii, and seasonal service to Western Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1980/1980 | 234/18
ALASKA MATERIALS JOHN HORJES, PRES. www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
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ALASKA CLEAN TANKS ROBERT WILSON, OWNER PO Box 60415 Fairbanks, AK 99706-0415 alaskacleantanks.com bobwilson@alaskacleantanks.com 907-385-3975
OIL & GAS
Anchorage, AK 99503 alaskasafetyalliance.org info@alaskasafetyalliance.org 907-770-5250
The Alaska Safety Alliance works with industry and educators to create, connect, and enhance the quality of industry training and education programs in Alaska with the goal of powering the Alaska economy with a skilled and dynamic workforce. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
alyeska-pipe.com alyeskamail@alyeska-pipeline.com 907-787-8700
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company has operated the Trans Alaska Pipeline System since 1977 and delivered more than 18 billion barrels of oil. Focused on safe and flawless operations, employees are committed to keeping TAPS sustainable for Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1970/1970 | 761/760
1999/1999 | 7/7
ALASKA TENT & TARP SEAN MCLAUGHLIN, CEO 81 E Commercial Dr. Palmer, AK 99645 alaskatent.com marketing@airframesalaska.com 907-456-6328
Secondary containment production. Geomembrane liners and berms. Portable fabric structures. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1945/1945 | 75/75
AMERICAN MARINE INTERNATIONAL DAVID SHAHNAZARIAN, VP 6000 A St. Anchorage, AK 99518 amarinecorp.com alaska@amarinecorp.com 907-562-5420
American Marine International is a full-service marine contractor providing commercial diving, marine construction, non-destructive examination, ABS welders, marine salvage, and vessel support for a wide variety of installation, maintenance and repair projects. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
ALASKA WEST EXPRESS ERIC BADGER, PRES. 1048 Whitney Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 lynden.com/awe information@lynden.com 907-339-5100
Alaska West Express provides oversized and bulk truckload transportation throughout the United States and Canada, specializing in shipments to, from, and within Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1978/1978 | 179/164
ALASKAN ENERGY RESOURCES LEE SMITH, SR. VP 1120 Huffman Rd., Ste. 234 Anchorage, AK 99515 alaskanenergyresources.com akerr@alaskanenergy.com 907-336-4664
Provides oil drilling equipment to operators. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2001/2001 | 5/5
ALEUT CORPORATION THOMAS MACK, PRES./CEO 4000 Old Seward Hwy., Ste. 300 Anchorage, AK 99503 aleutcorp.com info@aleutcorp.com 907-561-4300
Federal government contracting, O&M, logistics, IT; remediation, demolition, telecommunications; engineering, prototype, manufacturing; fuel sales, oil & gas related services; oil well-testing; real estate; and mechanical fabrication and installation. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1972/1972 | 880/95
ALL AMERICAN OILFIELD PETE DICKINSON, PRES. 14896 Kenai Spur Hwy., Ste. 203 Kenai, AK 99611 allamericanoilfield.com info@allamericanoilfield.com 907-283-1048
On-shore and off-shore services include drilling, maintenance and support, workover, coil tubing, grind and inject, and well testing crews. Professional services include oilfield engineering, consulting, and management services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2010/2010 | 100/100
ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY BRIGHAM MCCOWN, PRES. PO Box 196660, MS 542 Anchorage, AK 99519-6660 72 | May 2020
1973/1993 | 260/57
AMERICAN RELOCATION SERVICES KRISTINA BLACKADAR COMMERCIAL SALES MGR. 5491 Electron Dr., Unit 1 Anchorage, AK 99518 americanrelocationservices.com Blackadark@americanfast.com 907-561-5166
Commercial/residential relocation, moving and storage, temperature-controlled facilities, ocean freight forwarding, complete packing and crating services, free detailed estimates, military approved, certified moving consultants, budget service options. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1988/1988 | 80/55
ARCTIC CONTROLS SCOTT ALLAN STEWART, PRES. 1120 E. Fifth Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 arcticcontrols.com SStewart@arcticcontrols.com 907-277-7555
Arctic Controls is Alaska's leading expert in valves, flow meters, actuators, instrumentation, and process controls for commercial oil, gas, mining, and water management.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1985/1985 | 2/2
ARCTIC ENERGY GREG PORTER, PRES. PO Box 220110 Anchorage, AK 99522 arcticenergyalaska.com gporter@arcticenergyalaska.com 907-382-7772
Founded in 2012, Arctic Energy provides combined heat and power energy solutions and distributed generation throughout Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and extreme locations, such as Greenland and Antarctica. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2012 | 5/3
ARCTIC FOUNDATIONS EDWARD YARMAK, PRES. 5621 Arctic Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99518 arcticfoundations.com info@arcticfoundations.com 907-562-2741
Two-phase thermosyphons for long-term ground freezing: used for permafrost stabilization, frozen dams, containment, etc. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1972/1972 | 15/15
ARCTOS ALASKA, A DIVISION OF NORTECH PETER BEARDSLEY, CEO 3105 Lakeshore Dr., Ste. A106 Anchorage, AK 99517 arctosak.com info@nortechengr.com 907-222-2445
Full service environmental regulatory compliance contractor, tank and piping inspection, field compliance services, permit and compliance management, oil discharge contingency and SPCC plans, plan audits, full range oil spill response plan services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1979/1979 | 25/25
ARS ALEUT ANALYTICAL JERRY BAKER, SALES/BUS. DEV. 3710 Woodland Dr., Ste. 900 Anchorage, AK 99517 amrad.com jbaker@aaanalytical.com 907-258-2155
Full service, state certified analytical laboratory with facilities located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Wasilla. ARS specializes in drinking water, wastewater, general water quality testing, contaminated sites, and RCRA waste characterization. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1991/1991 | 50/15
ASRC ENERGY SERVICES CHRISTINE RESLER, PRES./CEO 3900 C St., Ste. 701 Anchorage, AK 99503 asrcenergy.com info@asrcenergy.com 907-339-6200
ASRC Energy Services (AES) is a subsidiary of ASRC. AES has more than 30 Years of experience providing support services, like operations and maintenance and pipeline construction, to Alaska's energy industry producers. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1937/1937 | 2,500/2,500
BAKER HUGHES JON RHODES, AREA MGR. AK 795 E. 94th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99515 bakerhughes.com 907-267-3431
Baker Hughes covers every segment of the oil and gas industry as a full-stream company, including upstream, midstream, and downstream solutions. Delivering integrated oilfield products, services, and digital solutions to the oil and gas industry. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1969/1980 | 67,000/185
BEACON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY SERVICES HOLLY HYLEN, PRES./CEO 800 Cordova St. Anchorage, AK 99501 beaconohss.com mhylen@beaconohss.com 907-222-7612
Beacon provides remote medical, occupational medicine, safety staffing, and training solutions to keep your employees safe and healthy, regardless of their location. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1999/1999 | 258/241
BERING MARINE CORPORATION RICK GRAY, PRES. 6520 Kulis Dr. Anchorage, AK 99502 lynden.com/bmc information@lynden.com 907-248-7646
Bering Marine Corporation provides highly specialized marine services to reach water-locked
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
Providing Quality Mechanical Systems Since 1982
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1985/1985 | 70/69
BOWHEAD TRANSPORT COMPANY DON GRAY, GM 6700 Arctic Spur Rd. Anchorage, AK 99518 bowheadtransport.com christopher.palle@bowhead.com 541-905-5204
• HVAC Systems • Hydronic Systems • Plumbing Systems • MedGas Systems • Fuel Systems • Radiant & Snowmelt Systems • Design Build & Bid Build
Bowhead Transport Company provides oceangoing transportation for cargo and equipment via the M/V Unalaq, a 150-foot ocean going, 5-foot shallow-draft landing craft with 5,000 square feet of deck space and accommodations for sixteen passengers.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1982/1982 | 6/6
BRISTOL BAY INDUSTRIAL MARK D. NELSON, PRES./CEO 5015 Business Park Blvd., Ste. 4000 Anchorage, AK 99503-7146 bbindustrial.com general@bbindustrial.com 907-865-5550
Bristol Bay Industrial optimizes assets, services, and suppliers while leveraging the global relationships and local connections of our six member companies to provide clients with original, scalable, and cost effective solutions in any market. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1987/1987 | 1,500/1,500
BROOKS RANGE SUPPLY DAVE PFEIFER, PRES./CEO Pouch 340008 Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734 brooksrangesupply.com 907-659-2550
Please visit our website aaronak.com to see our completed and ongoing projects.
Q UA L I T Y • C O M M I T M E N T • I N N OVAT I O N 2143 Standard Avenue, Fairbanks I aaronak.com I (907)452-3463
Automotive and heavy equipment parts, industrial and hydraulic hose, hardware, welding equipment, electrical and plumbing supplies, safety and MRO supplies, propane, oil spill materials, lubricants, hand and power tools. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1982/1982 | 40/40
C & R PIPE AND STEEL DENNIS WILFER, PRES. 401 E. Van Horn Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99701 crpipeandsteel.com sales@crpipe.net 907-456-8386
C & R Pipe and Steel has the largest selection of low temperature pipe in Alaska. We provide a range of steel and pipe products for any project. For the largest inventory at affordable prices for pipe, aluminum and steel in Alaska think of C & R Pipe. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1992/1992 | 49/49
CARLILE TRANSPORTATION TERRY HOWARD, PRES. 1800 E. First Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501-1833 carlile.biz customerservice@carlile.biz 907-276-7797
MEETINGS WITH A VIEW
Transportation and logistics company offering multi-model trucking as well as project logistics services across Alaska and North America.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1980/1980 | 432/320
CCI INDUSTRIAL SERVICES MARK NELSON, PRES./CEO 5015 Business Park Blvd., Suite 4000 Anchorage, AK 99503 cciindustrial.com www.akbizmag.com
THE LAKEFRONT ANCHORAGE
An unforgettable meeting experience overlooking the busiest seaplane base in the world. Over 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Contact us today at +1 907.266.2206 Alaska Business
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villages and other remote Alaska locations. Our fleet of shallow-draft equipment supports construction of docks, roads, and airstrips in Alaska communities.
OIL & GAS
907-258-5755
907-276-6664
Corrosion-under-insulation refurbishment; asbestos and lead surveys and abatement; specialty coatings; sandblasting; tank and vessel cleaning; fire proofing; demolition and hazardous waste removal; operations, maintenance, and construction.
Civil, commissioning, corrosion control, electrical, forensic, fire protection, industrial design, instrumentation and controls, mechanical, pipeline integrity management, pipeline and process facility design, project management, and structural.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1989/1989 | 330/330
1979/1979 | 568/110
CHUGACH ALASKA SERVICES RYAN KEGLEY, GM 3800 Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 520 Anchorage, AK 99503 chugachalaskaservices.com ryan.kegley@chugach.com 907-261-0474
COLVILLE DAVE PFEIFER, PRES./CEO Pouch 340012 Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734 colvilleinc.com info@colvilleinc.com 907-659-3198
Chugach Alaska Services provides tailored, costefficient staffing solutions to Alaska's oil and gas industry. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2008/2008 | 42/42
CHUGACH PROFESSIONAL OILFIELD SERVICES GERALD ATOL, GM 3800 Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 1200 Anchorage, AK 99503 chugach.com gerald.atol@chugach.com 907-261-0427
Chugach Professional Oilfield Services provides professional oilfield engineering, consulting, and management services to operators across Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2015/2015 | 5-20/5-20
Colville’s family of companies provides essential supplies and services across the entire state from the North Slope to the Kenai Peninsula. Our services include fuel, aviation, solid waste, transport, industrial supply, camp/hotel, and office space. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1981/1981 | 200/200
CONAM CONSTRUCTION DALE KISSEE, PRES. 301 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Ste. 300 Anchorage, AK 99503 conamco.com 907-278-6600
General construction contractor specializing in design and construction of oil and gas facilities and pipelines, mining facilities, water and sewer facilities, and other remote infrastructure projects. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
COFFMAN ENGINEERS TOM LOONEY, VP/MNG. PRINCIPAL 800 F St. Anchorage, AK 99501 coffman.com
1984/1984 | 300/300
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY INDUSTRIAL KEN GERONDALE, PRES./CEO
5400 Homer Dr. Anchorage, AK 99518 cmiak.com 907-563-3822
Construction and mining equipment sales, rentals, service, and parts. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1985/1985 | 101/101
COOK INLET SPILL PREVENTION & RESPONSE TODD D. PAXTON, GM 51377 Kenai Spur Hwy. Kenai, AK 99611 cispri.org 907-776-5129
Provides oil-spill response services to member companies in the greater Cook Inlet area. Registered with the US Coast Guard (OSRO) and ADEC (PRAC).
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1991/1991 | 43/43
CRAIG TAYLOR EQUIPMENT CHRIS DEVINE, PRES./CEO 733 E. Whitney Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 craigtaylorequipment.com info@cteak.com 907-519-0055
Factory authorized dealer for Doosan large excavators, loaders, and articulated trucks; Bobcat mini-loaders and excavators; Dynapac compaction rollers; Fecon land clearing attachments and carriers.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1954/1954 | 55/55
CROWLEY FUELS RICK MEIDEL, VP/GM 201 Arctic Slope Ave. Anchorage, AK 99518 crowleyfuels.com petroleumservices@crowley.com 866-770-5587
Crowley is a leader in the Alaska fuel industry selling and distributing petroleum products to more than 280 communities across the state. Crowley serves its customers via 75 million gallons of storage, 160 delivery vehicles, and 7 tug-barge sets.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1892/1953 | 6,300/350
CRUZ CONSTRUCTION DAVE CRUZ, PRES. 7000 E. Palmer Wasilla Hwy. Palmer, AK 99645 cruzconstruct.com 907-746-3144
Experts in resource development and heavy civil construction. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1981/1981 | 250/250
DEADHORSE AVIATION CENTER TIM CUDNEY, DIR. 301 Calista Ct. Anchorage, AK 99518 deadhorseaviation.com 907-685-1700
Fairweather’s Deadhorse Aviation Center is strategically designed to provide North Slope operators with a state-of-the-art Fixed Base Operation (FBO), providing logistics, lodging, and support activities in the Arctic. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2012 | 6/6
DELTA CONSTRUCTORS ED GOHR, CEO 351 E. 104th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99515 deltaconstructors.net 907-771-5800
Delta Constructors specializes in construction
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Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2007/2007 | 650/230
DELTA RENTAL SERVICES RICK CIRCLE, GM 2630 Van Horn Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99709 deltaindustrial.com Rcircle@deltaindustrial.com 907-457-4577
Rental equipment: dozers, excavators, backhoes, skid steer, telehandlers, dump truck, water truck, manlift, heaters. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1997/1997 | 70/11
DENALI DRILLING RON PICHLER, PRES. 8240 Petersburg St. Anchorage, AK 99507 denalidrilling.com 907-562-2312
DDI provides geotechnical, environmental, mineral exploration, commercial water well and large diameter (8') shaft drilling. We also drill, install tie-backs, and construct retaining walls. We have provided these services throughout Alaska since 1970. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1970/1970 | 10/10
DENALI UNIVERSAL SERVICES THOMAS (BOB) KEAN, PRES./CEO 11500 C St., Ste. 100 Anchorage, AK 99515 denaliuniversal.com 907-522-1300
Operational support including catering,
housekeeping, facility maintenance, and security. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1946/1946 | 850/780
construction, information technology, natural resource development, tourism, laundry, real estate, and wireless telecommunications. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
DOWLAND-BACH CORPORATION TONY DEHAVEN, VP OPS PO Box 230126 Anchorage, AK 99523-0126 dowlandbach.com sales@dowlandbach.com 907-562-5818
Wellhead control systems, NRTL listed industrial control panel fabrication, automation services/ systems integration, stainless steel tubing, pipe, fittings, flanges. Chemical injection and custom stainless steel fabrication. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1975/1975 | 25/25
1972/1972 | 1,046/708
EDISON CHOUEST OFFSHORE GARY CHOUEST, PRES./CEO 301 Calista Ct. Anchorage, AK 99518 chouest.com 907-562-2111
ECO is recognized as the most diverse and dynamic marine transportation solution provider in the world, with world-class shipbuilding and innovated subsea solutions. ECO is a global provider of logistics services, port facilities, and vessel support. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
DOYON ASSOCIATED WARREN CHRISTIAN, PRES. 615 Bidwell Ave., Ste. 100 Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-374-9130
Doyon Associated (DAL) specializes in arctic pipeline construction and associated infrastructure. DAL has an established presence in Alaska with offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage and shop/yard facilities in Fairbanks and Deadhorse. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2006/2006 | 200/200
DOYON, LIMITED AARON SCHUTT, PRES./CEO 1 Doyon Pl., Ste. 300 Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941 doyon.com communications@doyon.com 888-478-4755
Doyon operates a diverse family of companies in the areas of oil field services, utilities,
1960/2007 | 12,000/110
ENSTAR NATURAL GAS JOHN SIMS, PRES. PO Box 190288 Anchorage, AK 99519 enstarnaturalgas.com info@enstarnaturalgas.com 907-277-5551
ENSTAR is a regulated public utility that delivers natural gas to more than 147,000 customers across Southcentral Alaska. For nearly 60 Years, ENSTAR has heated homes and businesses with clean-burning and efficient natural gas. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1961/1961 | 200/200
ESI ALASKA (EQUIPMENT SOURCES INC.) NICK FERREE, VP 1919 Van Horn Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99701 esialaska.com
Growing with Alaska. Span Alaska’s new Anchorage Service Center (ASC) means even better service and more options for our customers statewide. Our new facility increases our capacity, improves our security, offers customizable storage areas, and streamlines freight handling — all to enable faster, smoother, and more consistent delivery of your cargo to its final destination. Stop by our new ASC and see what Span Alaska can do for you. Or, to schedule a pickup or find the terminal nearest you, call 1-800-257-7726 or visit us at spanalaska.com. www.akbizmag.com
Serving Alaska since 1978 Alaska Business
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management (estimating, planning, scheduling, and project execution) and direct hire construction in support of the up-stream and mid-stream oil and gas industry.
OIL & GAS
FAI-Sales@esialaska.com 907-458-9049
ESI designs, develops, and builds quality, innovative worksite products for the oil, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. All of our products are Built Arctic Tough, designed to last, and tested in harsh environments. Alaska's Kubota and JCB Dealer. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2000/2000 | 45/40
ESS SUPPORT SERVICES WORLDWIDE LARRY WEIHS, RVP 201 Post Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 essalaska.com gthompson@ess-worldwide.com facebook.com/ESSALASKA 907-865-9818
Restaurants, lounges, espresso. Catering services: remote sites: short-or long-term, including offshore platforms, camp janitorial and other employee staffing and leasing, in-flight services, governmental agency support services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1986/1986 | 1,100/200
EVERTS AIR CARGO & EVERTS AIR ALASKA ROBERT W. EVERTS, PRES./CEO PO Box 61680 Fairbanks, AK 99706 EvertsAir.com shoshaw@EvertsAir.com 907-450-2300
Everts Air Cargo provides scheduled cargo service within Alaska and air charter services to domestic and international destinations. Everts Air Alaska, based in Fairbanks, provides passenger, freight, and charter service using Pilatus and Caravan aircraft. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1995/1995 | 348/333
FAIRWEATHER RICK FOX, CEO 301 Calista Ct. Anchorage, AK 99518 fairweather.com 907-346-3247
Foundex.com HGrey@Foundex.com 907-522-8263
Fairweather offers highly-specialized services supporting oil and gas and mining operations. These services include remote medical and HSE support, drilling program management and support, weather forecasting, bear guards, aviation and airstrip services.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1976/1976 | 140/140
FIVE STAR OILFIELD SERVICES JENNY DICKINSON, OPS MGR. 1301 Huffman Rd., Ste. 208 Anchorage, AK 99515 fivestaroilfieldservices.com jdickinson@fivestaroilfieldservices.com 907-272-9877
Remote catering and camp services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 2002/2002 | 200/200
FLOWLINE ALASKA RICHARD SCHOK, PRES. 1881 Livengood Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-456-4911
Shop applied corrosion coatings and insulation. Fabrication services.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
Provide geotechnical and environmental drilling services. Equipped for drilling with air and mud rotary, sonic, coring, and auger tools. Some of our equipment is specially designed for helicopter support. This year we added a jack-up rig. Y ear Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1983/1983 | 80/25
FRAWNER CORP. JAY FRAWNER, PRES. 8123 Hartzell Rd. Anchorage, AK 99507 907-561-4044
General contractor including building construction, remodel, HVAC systems, sewer, water, and storm systems. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2000/2005 | 48/45
FUGRO RADA KHADJINOVA, GM AK 5761 Silverado Way, Ste. O Anchorage, AK 99518 fugro.com akprojects@fugro.com 907-561-3478
Fugro is the world’s leading geo-data specialist. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, we unlock insights from geo-data to help our clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1982/1982 | ~75/~75
1962/2003 | 10,000/2
FOUNDEX PACIFIC HOWARD J. GREY, MGR. 2261 Cinnabar Lp. Anchorage, AK 99507
GBR OILFIELD SERVICES BILLY REYNOLDS, PRES. 6300 Petersburg St. Anchorage, AK 99507
At NANA, we advance responsible resource development and economic opportunity to improve the lives of our people. Our Iñupiaq values of hard work, cooperation and commitment guide our partnerships and principles, informing our business operations at every level, every day.
Together, let’s develop Alaska’s potential.
nana.com
76 | May 2020
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
Our services include casing, welding and fabrication, testing, and inspection. We maintain a full-time operation on the North Slope where we provide an array of oilfield services, as well as a shop in Soldotna for those operating in Cook Inlet. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1973/1973 | 30/15
GOLDER ASSOCIATES JEREMIAH DRAGE, SR. CONSULTANT/GROUP LEADER 2121 Abbott Rd., Ste. 100 Anchorage, AK 99507 907-344-6001
Arctic and geotechnical engineering, groundwater resource development, environmental sciences, and remedial investigation.
907-275-2600
Halliburton offers a broad array of oilfield technologies and services to upstream oil and gas customers worldwide. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1919/1958 | 60,000/350
HAWK CONSULTANTS CHUCK HEATH, GM 3201 C St., Ste. 406 Anchorage, AK 99503 hawkpros.com chuck@hawkpros.com 907-278-1877
Serving the energy industry with honor and distinction since 1985. Hawk provides professional staffing and inspection services to our clients in Alaska and throughout North America. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1985/1985 | 213/61
GPS ALASKA MICHAEL WILLIAMS, VP 360 E. International Airport Rd., Ste. 10 Anchorage, AK 99518 gpsalaska.com Info@gpsalaska.com 907-562-8000
HIGH TIDE ENVIRONMENTAL CHRIS HOFFMAN, OWNER 180 E. Hygrade Ln. Wasilla, AK 99654 hightidealaska.com Chris@hightidealaska.com 907-354-3132
We provide marine mammal and bird observers during construction (IHA) and environmental permitting (ESA, MMPA, NEPA) in Alaska focused on protected species and noise impacts. Specializing in short notice problem solving and compliance.
GPS Alaska is a technology provider for the oil and gas, construction, survey, and engineering industry in Alaska. Our core business is providing solutions through positioning technology to make the industries we serve safer and more efficient.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2010/2010 | 2/2
2004/2004 | 10/10
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES SCOTT ODELL, AK DISTRICT MGR. 6900 Arctic Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99518
ICE Services has served many clients and has completed numerous projects all over Alaska. From designing, building, and installing camps and utilities to providing helpdesk outsourcing and maintenance services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1986/1986 | ~400/~400
IMMERSIVE GEOMATICS SOLUTIONS KENN KADOW, PRINCIPLE 3400 Knik Ave. Anchorage, AK 99517 immersivegeomaticssolutions.com kkadow@immersivegeomaticssolutions.com 907-279-4000 Geo-spatial and facility mapping using 360-degree cameras, ortho, LIDAR, and FODAR technologies. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1960/1980 | 6,500/30
info@iceservices.net 907-644-0385
ICE SERVICES TJ BOURDON, PRES. 2606 C St. Anchorage, AK 99503 iceservices.net
2004/2004 | 11/2
JUDY PATRICK PHOTOGRAPHY JUDY PATRICK, OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER 511 W. 41st Ave., Ste. 101 Anchorage, AK 99503 judypatrickphotography.com judy@judypatrickphotography.com 907-223-4704
Creative photography for oil and gas, mining, construction and transportation industries in North America.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1984/1984 | 2/2
KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT MARK NELSON, PRES./CEO 5015 Business Park Blvd., Ste. 4000 Anchorage, AK 99503 kakivik.com info@kakivik.com
Specializing in: • Bridges • Roads • Site Work • Environmental Cleanup
Where Engineering Meets the Environment. (907) 357-2238 www.tutkallc.com SBA Certified HUBZone & DBE www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
May 2020 | 77
OIL & GAS
gbroilfield.com 907-563-3550
OIL & GAS
907-770-9400
Kakivik is a full-service industrial asset integrity management company specializing in Nondestructive Testing (NDT), external and internal corrosion investigations, quality program management, and field chemical and corrosion management.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1999/1999 | 590/590
leonardodrs.com/ges GESinfo@drs.com 1-800-330-0784 Ext 8620
Resilient fiber-optic, microwave, and satellite networks, broadband internet, 24x7x365 network operations, cyber security, IT services, video teleconferencing, VoIP, VPN, field service, and full life-cycle sustainment. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1968/2002 | 6,470/23
KASSBOHRER ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES DENNIS MCGIBONEY, VP SALES/MKTG. 18460 SW 126th Pl. Tualatin, OR 97062 pistenbullyusa.com contact@pistenbullyusa.com 503-783-1935
PistenBully tracked utility vehicles and PowerBully tracked carriers. Up to 520 horsepower. Up to 18-ton payload. Ice road construction, snow removal, equipment transport, pull heavy sleds, personnel cabins, special use. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1969/1985 | 75/4
LIFEMED ALASKA RUSS EDWARDS, CEO PO Box 190026 Anchorage, AK 99519-0026 lifemedalaska.com info@lifemedalaska.com 907-563-6633
Statewide air ambulance services with bases in Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Juneau, Palmer, and Soldotna, Dutch Harbor, and Kodiak. Anchorage-based ALS ground ambulance services. CAMTS Accredited. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2008/2008 | 135/135
KIEWIT INFRASTRUCTURE WEST CO. PAT HARRISON, EXEC. AREA MGR. 2000 W. International Airport Rd., #C6 Anchorage, AK 99502 907-222-9350
Heavy civil construction including transportation, marine, dams, and resource development. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1884/1947 | 18,000/50-100
LEONARDO DRS - INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS VICKIE KELLY, BUS. DEV. 310 K St., Ste. 200 Anchorage, AK 99501
LIFEWATER ENGINEERING COMPANY BOB TSIGONIS, PRES. 1963 Donald Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 LifewaterEngineering.com Info@lifewaterengineering.com 907-458-7024
Custom fabrication of welded plastic tanks, boats, and other products including sewage treatment plants for man camps, homes, and lodges in the most extreme climates and remote places. For Rough Duty Boats, visit www.Class5Boatworks.com. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1998/1998 | 10/10
LOGIC GEOPHYSICS & ANALYTICS ESTHER BABCOCK, GEOPHYSICIST 1120 Huffman Rd., Ste. 24-378 Anchorage, AK 99515 logicgeophysics.com services@logicgeophysics.com 907-744-8111
Near-surface geophysical surveys, including geologic mapping, gravel exploration, engineering geophysics, and environmental site characterization using ground-penetrating radar, seismic (refraction, MASW, and downhole), EM31/61, and resistivity tools. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2017/2017 | 1/1
LOUNSBURY & ASSOCIATES TOM ADAMS, PRES. 5300 A St. Anchorage, AK 99518 lounsburyinc.com info@lounsburyinc.com 907-272-5451
Civil engineering, land surveying, planning, construction management. Servicing local and state government, oil and gas industry, and private development. Offices in Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, and Kuparuk. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1949/1949 | 52/49
LYNDEN AIR CARGO RICK ZERKEL, PRES. 6441 S. Airpark Pl. Anchorage, AK 99502 lynden.com/lac information@lynden.com 907-243-7248
Lynden Air Cargo provides scheduled Yearround service from Anchorage to Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, and St. Mary's and flag stop service to any Alaska community with a runway. We also offer worldwide charter services with our fleet of Hercules aircraft.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1996/1996 | 211/211
FROM HERE TO THERE? NO PROBLEM.
LYNDEN INTERNATIONAL JOHN KALOPER, PRES. 6441 S. Airpark Pl. Anchorage, AK 99502 lynden.com/lint information@lynden.com 907-243-6150
Domestic and international freight forwarding and customs services.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1980/1980 | 224/55
LYNDEN LOGISTICS ALEX MCKALLOR, PRES. 6520 Kulis Dr. Anchorage, AK 99502 lynden.com/llog information@lynden.com 907-245-1544 We’re ready to tackle your most complex marine transportation, logistical and modular transportation challenges worldwide. With point-to-point turnkey logistics, and project and asset management, we’ll get you from here to there — safely and efficiently.
always safe. always ready.
www.foss.com
Arrangement of freight transportation, information management, and logistical services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1984/1984 | 13/4
LYNDEN OILFIELD SERVICES ERIC BADGER, PRES. 1048 Whitney Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 lynden.com/loil information@lynden.com 907-339-5100
Lynden Oilfield Services, a division of Alaska West Express, provides support for exploration, production, and service companies on the North Slope working to develop Alaska's oil and gas resources.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2015/2015 | 30/30
78 | May 2020
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
Provides training in hazardous materials transportation, emergency response, incident management, hazardous waste, workplace safety, and equipment operation. A division of Alaska West Express, we are "the hands-on training facility."
3520 FAA Rd. Homer, AK 99603 maritimehelicopters.com info@maritimehelicopters.com 907-235-7771
N C MACHINERY JOHN J. HARNISH, CEO 6450 Arctic Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99518 ncmachinery.com 907-786-7500
We support oil, construction, and marine trades. Our fleet includes a Viking 400 Twin Otter, Bell 206L, 407 and twin-engine 412HP & BO105 Eurocopters. Our 86-foot helipad equipped vessel supports remote marine operations. Bases throughout all of Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1973/1973 | 75/75
Cat machine sales, parts, service, and rental. Cat engines for marine, power generation, truck, petroleum, and industrial applications. Sales and rental of Cat and other preferred brands of rental equipment and construction supplies.
MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL JEFF BAKER, SR. VP/AK OPS MGR. 3900 C St., Ste. 900 Anchorage, AK 99503 mbakerintl.com 907-273-1600
NANA CONSTRUCTION JEFF ACTON, PRES. PO Box 520788 Big Lake, AK 99652 nanaconstruction.com info@nanaconstruction.com 907-892-3383
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1926/1926 | 1,022/190
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1995/1995 | 4/4
LYNDEN TRANSPORT PAUL GRIMALDI, PRES. 3027 Rampart Dr. Anchorage, AK 99501 lynden.com/ltia information@lynden.com 907-276-4800
Lynden Transport has been the trusted leader for shipping freight to, from and within Alaska since 1954. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
Engineering: transportation, pipeline, geotechnical, mechanical, civil; GIS and LiDAR; environmental/permitting/NEPA; public involvement.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1940/1942 | 3,494/44
1954/1954 | 251/125
MAGTEC ALASKA RYAN ANDREW PETERKIN, PRES. 43385 Kenai Spur Hwy. Kenai, AK 99611 907-335-6305
Oilfield equipment rental and project support. Logistic service, North Slope camps, equipment sales and service. Based in Kenai with a camp and service center in Deadhorse. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2008/2008 | 76/70
MARITIME HELICOPTERS ROBERT FELL, DIR. OPS
Specializing in industrial and commercial fabrication and installation, camp design, constructability support, and longevity services. Full-service general contractor safely providing core services to Alaska’s mining and oil and gas industries. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
MODULAR TRANSPORTABLE HOUSING STACY STOLTENOW, VP 3116 Commercial Dr. Anchorage, AK 99501 mthousing.net office@mthousing.net 877-929-9902
Remote housing for mining, logging, construction, construction offices, industrial facilities, laboratories, field offices, dormitory buildings, office buildings, urban housing, shower and locker room facilities, medical facilities. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1995/2005 | 100/15
2008/2008 | 320/320
NANA WORLEY WYCHE FORD, PRES. 3700 Centerpoint Dr., 7th Fl. Anchorage, AK 99503 nanaworleyparsons.com info@nanaworleyparsons.com 907-273-3900
NANA Worley provides multi-discipline engineering and design, project management, procurement, project controls, and construction management for various industries including hydrocarbons, mining, power,
resourceful solutions HELPING NATURAL RESOURCES CLIENTS NAVIGATE TURBULENT TIMES TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS TODAY’S EVOLVING LEGAL LANDSCAPE. Dorsey & Whitney’s Energy & Natural Resources attorneys assist clients with a wide range of oil & gas matters, providing timely and effective counsel to companies engaged in upstream, midstream, or downstream operations. Dorsey provides comprehensive representation, helping clients with everything from employment matters, corporate transactions, and litigation, to regulatory and environmental compliance.
For up-to-date information on the rapidly evolving legal and business challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Dorsey’s
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER www.dorsey.com/coronavirus
dorsey.com/anchorage www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
May 2020 | 79
OIL & GAS
LYNDEN TRAINING CENTER ERIC BADGER, PRES. 4325 Cinch St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 lynden.com/training ltc@lynden.com 907-456-2223
OIL & GAS
telecom and infrastructure. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1997/1997 | 267/267
NORTH STAR EQUIPMENT SERVICES JEFF BENTZ, PRES. 790 Ocean Dock Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 northstarak.com sales@northstarak.com 907-272-7537
We provide operated crane services and equipment solutions. We have state of the art ABI Mobilram machines, to drive pile, large diameter drilling, with vibratory and diesel impact hammer attachments. We have eight offices spread throughout Alaska. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1950/1950 | 50/50
NORTH WIND GROUP CHRISTOPHER LEICHTWEIS, CEO/PRES. 2525 C St., Ste. 130 Anchorage, AK 99503 northwindgrp.com 907-290-8222
Design-build; construction; environmental investigation, restoration, remediation; engineering; natural and cultural resources; GIS services; demolition; waste management; regulatory support; mine reclamation; facilities management; operations and maintenance. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1997/1997 | 1,160/70
NORTHERN AIR CARGO GIDEON GARCIA, VP/GM 4510 Old International Airport Rd. Anchorage, AK 99502 nac.aero acampbell@naservices.aero 907-249-5163
Anchorage-based Northern Air Cargo is Alaska’s largest all-cargo airline. From groceries to medical supplies and lumber, customers across Alaska, including an array of industries such as oil, gas, mining and construction, depend on NAC. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1956/1956 | 356/298
NORTHSTAR SUPPLY RICHELL CARMICHAEL, OWNER PO Box 3637 Palmer, AK 99645 nssalaska.com info@nssalaska.com 907-357-1147
Alaska's premier supplier of industrial construction materials specializing in calcium chloride, drilling fluids, geotextiles, erosion control, and dust control products. We are a local, woman owned company in Palmer, AK. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2017/2017 | 4/4
NRC ALASKA, A US ECOLOGY COMPANY BLAKE HILLIS, SR. VP NRC AK 425 Outer Springer Lp. Rd. Palmer, AK 99645 usecology.com info@nrcc.com 907-258-1558 Emergency spill response, hazardous/nonhazardous waste disposal, petroleum product recycling, industrial cleaning services, vacuum truck services, glycol recovery and sales, thermal soil remediation, Valvoline products, Alaska made automotive fluids
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2014/2014 | 3,200/125
OCEAN MARINE SERVICES KELLY MCNEIL, PRES. PO Box 7070 80 | May 2020
Nikiski, AK 99635 omsi-ak.com 907-776-3685
A marine transportation and logistical support company with offshore supply vessels, research vessels, and a landing craft. Area of operation is from the Beaufort Sea to the Gulf of Mexico. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1982/1982 | 60/50
ODYSSEY LOGISTICS KEITH HANCOCK, PRES. MULTI-MODAL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS 5025 Van Buren St. Anchorage, AK 99517 odysseylogistics.com Sales@odysseylogistics.com twitter.com/OdysseyLogistic 907-248-5548
Ocean freight forwarding, freight consolidation of all kinds, LTL/LCL, full loads and single shipments, temperature protected, dry vans, specialized equipment, heavy haul, project logistics, intrastate trucking, warehousing and distribution.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1984/1988 | 2,500/400
PCE PACIFIC SCOTT DAVIS, VP SALES 4730 Business Park Blvd., Suite H-18 Anchorage, AK 99503 PCEpacific.com pcepacific@pcepacific.com 907-243-3833
EMERSON-DeltaV Control System, SIS systems and SIL instrumentation, Fisher Valves, Anderson Greenwood and Crosby Safety Relief Valves, Rosemount Instrumentation, MicroMotion Flow Meters, wireless devices and systems, rotating equipment monitoring sys Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1983/1983 | 130/8
PEAK OILFIELD SERVICE COMPANY MARK NELSON, PRES./CEO 5015 Business Park Blvd., Ste. 4000 Anchorage, AK 99503 peakalaska.com 907-263-7000
Oilfield general contracting, heavy civil construction, ice roads, camps, all-terrain vehicle transport, rig moving, and drilling support.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1987/1987 | 850/850
OFFSHORE SYSTEMS—KENAI KELLY MCNEIL, PRES. PO Box 8505 Nikiski, AK 99635 osk-ak.com 907-776-5551
A full-service marine terminal facility supporting Cook Inlet oil and gas operators. Providing shoreside services for OSV's, landing crafts, tug and barge operators, dive support vessels and others. Nikiski Fuel provides bulk diesel fuel. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1983/1983 | 30/20
PETRO MARINE SERVICES KURT LINDSEY, PRES./CEO 1813 E. First Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 petromarineservices.com info@petro49.com 907-562-5000
Serving the unique petroleum needs of a broad range of Alaska industries including fishing, home fuel sales, power generation, tourism, timber, transportation, construction, mining, and retail gasoline.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
ORION MARINE GROUP DAVID BANKE, DIR. OPS 740 Bonanza Ave. Anchorage, AK 99518 orionmarinegroup.com dbanke@orionmarinegroup.com 907-561-9811
Marine infrastructure and heavy civil and hydro dam construction, dredging, quarry operations, and mining. Pile driving, breakwater construction. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1994/2012 | 100/15
PACIFIC ALASKA LUMBER COMPANY VINT JONES, PRES. 9810 40th Ave. SW, Suite C Lakewood, WA 98499 pacaklumber.com sales@pacaklumber.com 907-341-3500
Suppliers of construction and specialty products. Serving all industries in AK. All grades and species of lumber/timber/ply/panels, treatment, EWP, GLB, metal, SIP, GEO, rigid foam, GWB, helical piers, HM doors/ frames /hardware. Matting solutions.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2007/2007 | 7/1
PATHFINDER AVIATION ROGAN PARKER, CEO 1936 Merrill Field Dr. Anchorage, AK 99501 pathfinderaviation.com info@pathfinderaviation.com 907-226-2800
Pathfinder Aviation supports petroleum, utility, survey, and various other industries utilizing twinengine Bell 212/412s, an EC135 and single engine AS350 B2 and B3, Bell 206 series helicopters with OAS-approved pilots and aircraft. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2001/2001 | 64/64
1956/1956 | 250/250
PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT & SERVICES KEVIN DURLING, PRES. 5631 Silverado Way, Unit G Anchorage, AK 99518 pesiak.com sales@pesiak.com 907-248-0066
We are in the business of supplying specialty products in the Alaska oil and gas market. Representing the following: Halliburton Bits, Sprung Engineered Structures, Drilltech torque reduction tools, Innovex cementation products, and Stream-Flo well heads. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1983/1983 | 22/22
PETROTECHNICAL RESOURCES OF ALASKA TOM WALSH, MNG. PARTNER 3601 C St., Ste. 1424 Anchorage, AK 99503 petroak.com info@petroak.com 907-272-1232
Alaska's oil and gas consultants specializing in geoscience, engineering, project management, seismic, and well data.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1997/1997 | 60+/60+
PND ENGINEERS JIM CAMPBELL, PRES. 1506 W. 36th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99503 pndengineers.com reception@pndengineers.com 907-561-1011
General civil, structural, geotechnical, marine, arctic, and coastal engineering; surveying; sanitary/wastewater; permitting; hydrology; metocean; quality assurance; inspection;
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
Rick Kniaziowski POSITION: General Manager, Operations LOCATION: Kodiak, Alaska DATE HIRED: December 14, 2005 NOTES: Long-time community consensus builder. Staunch defender of public school education and school budgets. Served on the Unalaska School Board, Kodiak School Board, Alaska Association of School Boards. Says the real family hero is his wife, a retired Kodiak City Manager.
Matson’s people are more than Alaska shipping experts. They are part of what makes our community unique. Visit Matson.com
OIL & GAS
construction engineering; site remediation; value engineering. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1979/1979 | 112/84
PRICE GREGORY INTERNATIONAL ROBERT STINSON, SR. VP AK DIV. 301 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Ste. 300 Anchorage, AK 99503 pricegregory.com 907-278-4400
Pipeline, power, heavy industrial construction, EPC, and consulting services. Infrastructure construction services provider. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1974/1974 | 3,500/150
PRL LOGISTICS RON HYDE, PRES./CEO PO Box 222029 Anchorage, AK 99522 PRLLogistics.com info@pacrimlog.com 907-261-9440
PRL is Alaska-owned and -operated with a high commitment to safety. From expediting to your most complex remote logistics challenges, PRL provides scalable logistics solutions worldwide to meet your logistics needs and ensure project success.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2002/2002 | 15/15
QUANTUM SPATIAL ADAM MCCULLOUGH, AK PROGRAM MGR. 2014 Merrill Field Dr. Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-4495
Quantum Spatial's comprehensive capabilities encompass the acquisition, analysis, integration, and management of geospatial data. We offer a diverse portfolio of advanced imaging and remote sensing technologies.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1960/1960 | 570/25
RESOURCE DATA JIM ROGERS, PRES. 560 E. 34th Ave., Ste. 100 Anchorage, AK 99503 resourcedata.com info@resourcedata.com 907-563-8100
Resource Data is Alaska’s local IT experts for the oil and gas industry. For more than 30 Years, we’ve provided data analysis and management, GIS, and software solutions for all phases from exploration to production to pipelines and incident response.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1986/1986 | 200/116
ROSS AVIATION LAURA CHARON, GM 6160 Carl Brady Dr. Anchorage, AK 99502 907-550-8500
We’re Alaska’s 24-hour, full service FBO with fuel, aircraft support, crew resting facilities, and business services.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2016/2016 | 35/35
SCHLUMBERGER OILFIELD SERVICES NATHAN ROSE, MNG. DIR. AK 6411 A St. Anchorage, AK 99518 slb.com 907-273-1700
Schlumberger is the world's leading provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1927/1956 | 100,000/540
82 | May 2020
SECURITY AVIATION STEPHEN "JOE" KAPPER, PRES. 6121 S. Airpark Pl. Anchorage, AK 99502 securityaviation.biz sales@securityaviation.biz 907-248-2677
24/7 on-demand air charter. Approved carrier for the Corps of Engineers, state, and federal agencies. Executive travel, crew changes, HAZMAT, "HOT" cargo, and medical transports. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1985/1985 | 25/25
SEEKINS FORD LINCOLN RALPH SEEKINS, PRES. 1625 Seekins Ford Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99701 seekins.com sales@seekins.com 907-459-4000
Automotive sales, fleet, service, parts, quick lane tire and auto center, finance, and body shop. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1977/1977 | 100/100
SHANNON & WILSON MATTHEW HEMRY, VP/OFFICE MGR. 5430 Fairbanks St., Ste. 3 Anchorage, AK 99518 shannonwilson.com info-anchorage@shanwil.com 907-561-2120
Offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Palmer, and the Lower 48. Geotechnical and environmental engineering expertise for energy/power projects including oil and gas refineries, pipelines, power plants, transmission lines, wind farms, hydroelectric facilities. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1954/1974 | 300/50
SHORESIDE PETROLEUM KURT LINDSEY, PRES. 1813 E. First Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 shoresidepetroleum.com info@shoresidepetroleum.com 907-344-4571
Shoreside Petroleum is 100% Alaskan-owned fuel and lubricants distributor marketing fuels, lubricants, and other petroleum products in Southcentral Alaska. Shoreside operates terminals in Anchorage, Cordova, Seward, Wasilla, and Whittier. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1986/1986 | 145/145
SIEMENS INDUSTRY LEVERETTE HOOVER, GM AK/HI/PACIFIC RIM 5333 Fairbanks St., Unit B Anchorage, AK 99518 siemens.com leverette.hoover@siemens.com 907-563-2242
Energy services company and system integrator, including automation/energy management control systems, fire alarm, HVAC mechanical systems, security (card access, CCTV, intrusion, etc.), mass notification systems, and electrical distribution.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1849/1982 | 351,000/90
SLP ALASKA BRIAN WALDEN, PRES. 46540 Jo Ave. Kenai, AK 99611 slpalaska.com brian@slpalaska.com 907-202-3274
Safety consulting; safety training; well control training; incident investigation; leadership coaching; OSHA support; safety program development; project management and staffing
of contingent labor. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2012/2012 | 6/6
SPILL SHIELD LARK CHRISTENSEN, OPS MGR. 2000 W. International Airport Rd., #D-1 Anchorage, AK 99502 spillshield.com lark@spillshield.com 907-561-6033
Supplier for Smart Ash, Oil Away, Drug Terminator, and MediBurn incinerators. Absorbents, water scrubbers, oil spill response kits, Super Sacks, harbor boom, nitrile gloves, MicroBlaze, absorbent pads, rolls, boom, sock, duck ponds, and more. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1992/1992 | 4/4
SWAGELOK ALASKA TAREK SHEIRA, BRANCH MGR. AK OPS 341 E. 56th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99518 alaska.swagelok.com info@alaska.swagelok.com 907-563-5630
Swagelok Alaska is your source for the highest quality fluid system products, solutions, and training in Alaska. Our end-to-end quality system helps to guarantee consistent quality, each and every time. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees: 1965/1965 | 10/6
TAIGA VENTURES MIKE TOLBERT, PRES. 2700 S. Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 taigaventures.com contracting@taigaventures.com 907-452-6631
Taiga Ventures provides remote camps and logistics services (expediting, resupply, catering, fuel systems, vehicle and equipment rentals) for exploration, drilling, mining, clean-up and disaster relief projects statewide. Drill mud, PVC well pipe, and supply.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1979/1979 | 24/24
TAKU ENGINEERING WILLIAM MOTT, GM 406 W. Fireweed Ln. Anchorage, AK 99503 takuengineering.com billmott@takuengineering.com 907-562-1247
Taku Engineering is an Alaskan-owned and -operated multi-discipline engineering firm dedicated to providing innovative engineering and corrosion control design solutions.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2001/2001 | 15/15
TOTAL SAFETY U.S. GEORGE RISTEVSKI, CEO 209 E. 51st Ave. Anchorage, AK 99503 totalsafety.com 907-743-9871
Remote emergency medical services, breathing air systems, gas detection systems, H2S and safety consultants, safety, and medical training. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1994/2003 | 2,500/4
TRANSGROUP GLOBAL LOGISTICS RICH WILSON, STATION MGR. 5631 Silverado Way, #G-101 Anchorage, AK 99518 transgroup.com richw.anc@transgroup.com 907-243-4345
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OIL & GAS
US-owned full-service freight forwarder and global logistics provider. We provide transportation international and domestic lanes, warehousing, and specialized logistics solutions. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1987/2011 | 3,300/4
TRANSMARK CARTAGE SERVICES KEN MACCABEE, OPS SUPERVISOR 6200 Boeing Ave., Ste. 350 Anchorage, AK 99502 tcsdelivers.com ANC@tcsdelivers.com 907-351-2328
TCS is your full-service cartage company offering an array of services: white glove service, cargo screening, 53', 24', flatbed, and vans, TSA/STA compliant, cold chain services, military deliveries.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1990/2017 | 80/4
TRI-JET PRECISION CUTTING SERVICES DANIELLE DAVIS, GM 1960 S. Eklutna St. Palmer, AK 99645 trijetprecision.com accounting@trijetprecision.com 866-607-1653 Waterjet cutting, ceramic coating, welding and fabrication, machining-including 5-axis, 3D modeling, and drafting.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2004/2004 | 15/15
TTT ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES DEBORAH TOMPKINS, OWNER 4201 B St. Anchorage, AK 99503 tttenviro.com info@tttenviro.com 907-770-9041 Portable gas detection, health and safety monitoring, environmental equipment. Rentals, sales, service, and supplies. Warranty center. Alaskan-owned small business.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2003/2003 | 9/7
UDELHOVEN OILFIELD SYSTEM SERVICES JIM UDELHOVEN, CEO 184 E. 53rd Ave. Anchorage, AK 99518-1222 udelhoven.com jfronteras@udelhoven.com 907-344-1577
Commercial, industrial and oil and gas construction, process piping, FCO, commissioning, industrial and modular fabrication, mechanical/electrical inspection. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1970/1970 | 368/351
UIC OIL & GAS SUPPORT SERVICES DON GRAY, GM 6700 Arctic Spur Rd. Anchorage, AK 99518 UICAlaska.com don.gray@UICCS.com 907-677-8220
UIC Oil & Gas Support is a professional oilfield service subsidiary of Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation specializing in Alaska Arctic oilfield operation support services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2005/2005 | 10/10
UMIAQ ENVIRONMENTAL TERRI MITCHELL, GM 6700 Arctic Spur Rd. 84 | May 2020
Anchorage, AK 99518 uicalaska.com Terri.Mitchell@UICCS.com 907-677-5208
UMIAQ Environmental services include natural resource management, permitting, regulatory compliance support, stakeholder relations, spill response planning, and contaminated site clean-up. State of Alaska DBE and SBA 8(a) certified.
WILLIAMS SCOTSMAN CRAIG PESTER, GM 440 S. Sylvan Rd. Wasilla, AK 99623 907-562-1000
Workforce camps, remote accommodations, mobile office, office and modular solutions. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1963/1993 | 2,000+/5
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2016/2016 | 11/11
VIGOR ALASKA BERGAN WIELER, GM 3801 Tongass Ave. Ketchikan, AK 99901 vigor.net marinesales@vigor.net 907-228-5302
Vigor is a values-driven, diversified industrial business. We repair ships and build projects in support of energy generation, our nation’s infrastructure, national defense, and the maritime industry.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
WOLSELEY INDUSTRIAL GROUP DYLAN LISH, AREA MGR. AK 151 W. 95th Cir. Anchorage, AK 99515 wolseleyindustrialgroup.com Karl.Greninger@WolseleyInd.com 907-273-2100
Wolseley Industrial Group provides PVF materials in every Alaska market. Locations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Soldotna, and Wasilla. We are the only ISO9001:2015 certified PVF supply house in the State of Alaska. Full time Quality Assurance provided.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1950/1981 | 27,000/89
1994/1994 | 2,300/150
WASHINGTON CRANE & HOIST MIKE CURRIE, PRES. 940 Orca St. Anchorage, AK 99501 washingtoncrane.com sdick@washingtoncrane.com 907-336-6661
Crane builders, crane design, new crane sales, new hoist sales. Material handling solutions for industry, hoists, jib cranes, work stations, chain falls, lever hoists, crane upgrades, crane maintenance, crane inspections Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
WORLEY JEFF DOYLE, VP ARCTIC REGION 949 E. 36th Ave., Ste. 500 Anchorage, AK 99508 worley.com 907-275-5100
Full life-cycle engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction (EPC) and O&M, including full brownfield services, sustaining capital projects, TARs/shutdowns, asset operations, maintenance builds and execution, commissioning/decommissioning.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1962/1962 | 60,000/1,100
1975/2008 | 35/8
WASTE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL SERVICES MIKE HOLZSCHUH, SR. TERRITORY MGR. 1519 Ship Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 907-274-0477
Hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal, project management, complete logistical oversight, complete US and Canadian manifesting, rail transportation, over-the-road transportation, marine transportation, and turnkey remedial services.
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
YUKON EQUIPMENT CHARLES KLEVER, PRES. 2020 E. Third Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 yukoneq.com Info@yukoneq.com 907-277-1541
Sales, service, parts, rental and lease equipment, including Case, Trail King, Elgin, Vactor, Oshkosh, Etnyre, Monroe, Trackless, and Snow Dragon. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Wasilla locations. A subsidiary of Calista Corp. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1945/1945 | 45/45
1971/1971 | 43,000/5
WATERS PETROLEUM, LLC (DBA WATERS PETROLEUM ADVISORS) DOUGLAS WATERS, PRES. 4824 Potter Crest Cir. Anchorage, AK 99516 waterspetro.com dwaters@waterspetro.com 907-350-8289
Provides wellsite operations and geosteering, geological, geophysical, petrophysical and engineering consulting services for oil and gas companies.
YUKON FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES MATT ATKINS, GM/VP 5601 Silverado Way Anchorage, AK 99518 yukonfire.com matkins@yukonfire.com 907-563-3608
Fire and gas detection and suppression system design, supply, installation, and service. Alaska's only representative of Detector Electronics. Kidde Fire Systems, Marioff Hi-Fog, Ansul, Tyco Fire Protection Products. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
1978/1978 | 58/47
Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2009/2009 | 18/18
WEST-MARK SERVICE CENTERFAIRBANKS SCOTT VINCENT, CEO 3050 Van Horn Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99709 907-451-8265
Liquid transportation tank trailer repair. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
YUKON INDUSTRIAL MATT ATKINS, GM/VP 600 W. 58th Ave., Ste. J Anchorage, AK 99518 907-274-7973
Industrial fire and gas detection and suppression solutions. System design and engineering, compliance inspections, and panel fabrication and testing services. Year Founded/Est. in Alaska | Worldwide/Alaska Employees:
2016/2016 | 12/12
1967/2009 | 236/12
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E N V I R O N M E N TA L
Marine Environmental Services The front line for protecting Alaska’s shorelines By Isaac Stone Simonelli
Chilkoot | iStockphoto
C
86 | May 2020
lose to 10,000 large commercial vessels transit the Aleutian Islands annually for trade between Asian and US markets, and each of these represents a potential marine environmental hazard should something go amiss, says Buddy Custard, president and CEO of the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network. That number doesn’t account for the thousands of fishing vessels, barges, and other boats operating off Alaska’s shores. “Our first emphasis is not having an incident whatsoever. It's about protecting the crews, the cargo, and the Alaska coastline,” Custard says. “However, our message is: Prevention Focused—Response Ready. In the event of an incident, we maintain and have the capability to mobilize the largest inventory of response resources in the region 24/7.” The Network was created in 2011 by Alaska maritime industry stakeholders as a nonprofit organization to provide enrolled tank and nontank vessel protection in Alaska waters with 24/7 vessel tracking and access to partners with oil spill response resources. “It's all about making sure that the companies [that are enrolled with the Network] are in compliance with all US federal oil spill, prevention, and response regulations,” Custard says.
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These regulations are based on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which came in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster. The incident saw about 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Prince William Sound in 1989. It was the worst oil spill in the country’s history until the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. According to the EPA, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 “streamlined and strengthened the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by an oil tax is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so.” “The [Oil Pollution Act] requires oil storage facilities and vessels to submit to the Federal government plans detailing how they will respond to large discharges,” the EPA states in its summary of the act.
Focused on Prevention The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network places a heavy emphasis on prevention when it
comes to the marine environmental services it provides. “We have a very robust prevention aspect to the scope of work that we provide to mariners through the Network. We do fund a 24/7 monitoring center that's operated by the Marine Exchange of Alaska based out of Juneau,” Custard says. “We provide a service where we can help detect vessels that might be in trouble early so that we can render assistance or help coordinate—keeping that vessel out of harm's way.” Signs of distress can look like anything from a vessel’s speed slowing down significantly to it coming unusually close to the coastline. “If we feel like the vessel is slowed down too much, we might inquire: ‘Captain, why are you coming to all stop out in the middle of the ocean? Is there something wrong?’” Custard explains. Most of the time, there isn’t anything wrong, the ship slowed to avoid weather or conduct maintenance or training. “But we do pick up some ships that
are just broken. They have a casualty to their main propulsion plant—one of their engines—and they need to fix it,” Custard says, noting that the Network then reaches out to relevant agencies and organizations, such as the US Coast Guard, rescue tug and salvage companies, and vessel company representatives, to ensure everyone is aware of the vessel’s elevated risk profile. Custard recalls an incident earlier this year with a large commercial vessel caught in a Western Alaska winter storm just north of the Aleutian Islands. Heavy seas were impeding the vessel’s movement and driving it toward the shore. Though the ship was still more than 50 miles offshore, the Network’s monitoring center, through the use of geofencing technology and other filters, identified the ship’s elevated risk profile and confirmed with the captain that they were struggling, Custard explains. The captain said they were trying to get out of the situation but that their 2-knot drift rate might ground the
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“Technology has just exploded in leaps and bounds. It’s not just in the tech industry, it’s throughout the gamut of industry. So we're always looking at new technology that we can also develop to help the marine industry remain safe.” Buddy Custard, President/CEO Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network
vessel within twelve to eighteen hours. “So, we elevated it to a vessel of concern and provided, through our protocols, notifications to the US Coast Guard, vessel-owner operator, company salvage provider for emergency towing, and the oil spill removal organization that supports them per their vessel response plan,” Custard says. Through the increased level of communication and an expert understanding of the currents and waterways, it was possible to keep the ship out of harm’s way without the rescue tug hooking up to the ship, Custard says. According to Custard, at all times the Coast Guard, ship’s owner, and salvage provider were connected to ensure an accurate understanding of the vessel’s condition and to mobilize response resources if needed. Such preventative rescue efforts do not make headlines but are a core part of the work carried out by marine environmental service companies and organizations. However, not all casualties are
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rescued. In those cases, the Network taps a partner member-owned cooperative, the Alaska Chadux Corporation, to provide oil spill response services. Chadux is a US Coast Guard classified oil spill removal organization that is also a classified Alaska state primary response action contractor. The organization has more than twenty-five years of experience responding to oil spills in Western Alaska, Custard says. Alaska Chadux has seventeen response hubs strategically located throughout Western Alaska and has developed rapid response systems to utilize small aircraft in order to establish bases in remote villages with small runways. Together, the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network and Chadux manage, own, and control a large inventory of prevention and response capabilities, including two fully-dedicated, ocean-going, purpose built oil spill response vessels. They also have access to a large emergency towing vessel, the Endurance, operated by Paradigm Marine.
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The Resolve of Resolve Marine Unlike the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network, 1-Call Alaska, a subsidiary of Resolve Marine, directly provides marine environmental services rather than functioning as a facilitator and coordinator. Resolve Marine is an international corporation with offices on every continent except Antarctica. “We are basically focused on maritime emergency response all over the world. While we do subcontract people and equipment all over the world, we look at ourselves as a true emergency response organization, a true emergency response company,” 1-Call Alaska General Manager Todd Duke says. “We own a lot of equipment, we don't rent it from other people, we own it, we operate it. We employ the people that operate it.” With its primary base of operations strategically established in Dutch Harbor, 1-Call Alaska also has depots in Nome, Homer, Juneau, and Anchorage. Though 1-Call Alaska also emphasizes prevention, Duke points out that there are already thousands of pages of regulation mostly written
Divers have an important role to play on the 1-Call Alaska team when it comes to removing fuel or oil. 1-Call Alaska
to prevent incidents from occurring. But when a spill does occur, it’s vital to have the skimmers, booms, and other equipment necessary to mitigate the damage. “We're not in the vessel tracking business—even though we do that— we're not in the prevention business, we're in response,” Duke says. “That's important. You got to have the response readiness capability because you're not going to prevent every single incident. You will prevent a lot but not every one.” 1-Call Alaska has built its response
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efforts around keeping oil or fuel inside a damaged ship or taking it out in a controlled manner to minimize harm to the surrounding marine environment. “Even though the vessel may run aground or there may be a collision, we keep the maximum amount of oil from entering into the environment,” Duke says. Duke points out that though large commercial vessels pose a greater risk to the environment if they run aground, his team works more regularly with fishing vessels.
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“Our first emphasis is not having an incident whatsoever. It's about
Additional Arctic Response
protecting the crews, the cargo, and the Alaska coastline.”
1-Call Alaska
Buddy Custard, President/CEO Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network
“ They aren’t as closely regulated and sail closer to shore,” Duke says, adding that their likelihood of having a problem and needing assistance is higher. To better handle these situations, 1-Call Alaska has a small, fully-equipped oil response vessel, the Makushin Bay, for emergency towing. The company’s larger emergency towing vessel is the Resolve Pioneer. “On the Great Circle Route, she's gone out and she's done a dozen rescues or so in her time here in Alaska—she does about two a year,” Duke says. “We keep our vessels manned 24/7, 365 days a year. You can always go onboard a Resolve vessel and find a crew ready to get underway." 1-Call Alaska also has full-time commercial divers on staff to help safely unload fuel and other hazardous liquids from a casualty ship. The divers are trained to use a patented underwater hot tap system to drill into the side of a ship, put a valve in place, and safely pump fuel out of the damaged vessel. The system was put to work last year in New York. “There was a vessel that was sunk in 90 | May 2020
World War II, and it was still full of lube oil. They thought that maybe there was about 50,000 or 60,000 gallons of lube oil on this thing,” Duke says. “When we got done, we took 450,000 gallons of oil off of it. This was all done by divers and our remotely operated vehicles.”
The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network is expanding its capabilities through research and development efforts. “Technology has just exploded in leaps and bounds. It’s not just in the tech industry, it’s throughout the gamut of industry,” Custard says. “So we're always looking at new technology that we can also develop to help the marine industry remain safe.” One research and development effort that the Network has spearheaded and funded is its Emergency Vessel Attachment & Towing System, or EVATS. “It's a new breed of emergency towing equipment that can get things out there quicker and help towing companies hook up to a vessel that's disabled and adrift, keeping it under control better,” Custard says. The system has yet to be used in an emergency situation. However, the Network partnered with the Norwegian Coast Guard and the Norwegian Coastal Authority to test the equipment during an exercise in 2019. “So it has been used, and they gave us a big endorsement. They like it,” Custard says. Custard is also looking toward the Arctic as more ice melts and opens up potential trade routes. The first step in protecting the Arctic marine environment from oil spills is having the government work more closely with industry when coming up with policies and systems in the polar region, Custard says. “Industry has a lot of resources that they can bring to bear… a lot of knowledge about working up in that environment, and industry are the ones that are going to be using those shipping lanes as the ice continues to recede,” Custard says. “I do not believe that the relationship [between the government and industry] is as close as it should be.” Custard points out that the international community is already
making progress with coming up with best practices for industry in the Arctic. “But I have to say, domestically, we need to start doing more of that here in Alaska.” The primary challenge is an almost total lack of infrastructure. “There are few harbors or ports in the vast region of Western Alaska, which makes it difficult to mount a response. So, understanding that, it’s all about partnerships,” he says. For Custard, this means identifying what relationships need to be built to ensure air carriers, shippers, vessels of opportunity, response teams, and coastal communities are ready to go if there’s an incident. “Obviously, coastal communities have a vested interest with their cultural and subsistence lifestyle,” Custard says, noting that he would like to leverage these communities’ traditional knowledge to create a program to develop community-based responders in the Arctic. “It’s kind of like a first responder: we would give them some basic oil spill response equipment, such as booms and skimmers. So, if there is a spill, they can boom off some of the sensitive salmon streams and other sensitive habitats and commence cleaning up the impacted area to mitigate any lasting damage to the coastal environment.” Duke notes that traffic traversing Arctic waters is generally from Russia to China, with little “normal” commercial traffic. The major hurdle to getting the economic momentum to provide marine environmental services for these ships in the Arctic is that these vessels are traveling through US waters under the idea of innocent passage, which means they are not subject to US regulations. Additionally, those providing marine environmental services in the Last Frontier already have a full plate. The Aleutian Island chain alone comprises more than 1,000 miles of shoreline—almost the same amount of coastline from the US/Canada border to Mexico. However, it's clear that if marine environmental ser vices are needed in the region, Alaska’s experts will do ever ything in their power to provide them.
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H R M AT T E R S
Shifting the Mindset of Change in the Workplace
W
By Katie Lauwers
ith detailed research from the AEDC 2020 Economic forecast as well as the hum and buzz around Alaska’s economy, it is no surprise that we are amidst change on the horizon. We have changes in workforce demographics, demand of work, residential populations, and state budgeting. Unfortunately, as humans we seem to resist change. Change is just difficult to come to terms with. Typically, individuals and organizations alike try to prepare for and address exactly what is changing and how it is changing, and we work to make sure there are systems and processes in place that minimize the disruption. Why then do more than 70 percent of corporate change initiatives fail (Gallup 2013)? Because we feel a sense of loss of
control, fear, and risk. What if we empowered ourselves and our teams to create and maintain appropriate change? This reframing allows for more proactivity, resilience, and an increase in internal locus of control (that innate feeling of: I have some control over the outcome). Behavioral Economic study lends us insight into how our mindset affects our decision-making. Gallup suggests that 70 percent of decision-making is based on emotion and that just around 30 percent is based on rational thought (Gallup 2019). Therefore, we know that under risk and uncertainty individuals rely on emotional and heuristic thoughts (shortcuts that your brain uses to make decisions).
SHIFTING YOUR MINDSET ON CHANGE The Mindset of Managing Change Drive change from the top down. Prioritize the structural aspects of change. A manager’s role is to inform employees about change. Gallup
The Mindset of Leading Change Inspire change at all levels. Prioritize the behavioral and cultural aspects of change. A manager’s role is to coach and empower people to create change.
Heuristics and behavioral economic study shows us that being reactive to change just doesn’t always work. In order to support and facilitate informed decision making, individuals and teams need to address what fosters resilience. Often a complicated and far-fetched word, it is difficult to articulate how exactly to build resilience. Gallup suggests that a simple shift in mindset is a good start:
4. Learn and Grow As Gallup calls it, an agile and disruption-ready organization never stops adjusting and intentionally learning. These teams seem to detach from the fear of change, and rather, look for opportunities to spot it. This looks a lot like a mindset and approach that experiments, adapts, and collaborates more consistently.
1. Involve, Trust, and Empower Autonomy and confidence are vital to resilience: knowing that life isn’t happening to you is important.
Creating a culture of resilience and better decision-making takes time and practice as it involves deliberate changes in behavior. If you personally or professionally are experiencing change, identify where your strengths are and provide opportunities to invest in your strengths to change your mindset. Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is necessary for improved decision-making as well as achieving key performance outcomes through an intentional strengths-based approach.
2. Prioritize Development and Working in Your Strengths Particularly in the professional setting, developing managers is like training the trainer. Gallup has found that a manager accounts for 70 percent of an individual’s engagement. Under immense change, it is important that those with the highest influence are trained, aware, and committed to engaging their people. 3. Increase Conversation and Feedback It is important to provide yourself and your teams with multiple channels to communicate, measure, and understand the people around you. Understanding their perspectives and emotions provides more opportunities to change strategy and improve resilience ahead of change. HR Matters is sponsored content that is provided by Bradison Management Group
Katie Lauwers is a consultant at Bradison Management Group and is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Based Coach with a Masters in Behavioral Economics. Katie can be reached at katie@bmgak.com or (907) 865-8800
TOURISM
Beyond the Boat
Excursions and shoreside services enhance the visitor experience *Editor’s note: Because this article was researched and written prior to the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 the pandemic was not taken into account when the article’s participants were being interviewed. The effects of the coronavirus on the tourism industry are not included in this article.
By Tracy Barbour
N
early half of all visitors who come to Alaska arrive on cruise ships, according to research and consulting firm McDowell Group. And when they dock, there are a variety of shore excursions and other services available to enhance the cruise experience. Here’s a rundown on just some of the offerings that make it possible for cruise passengers—as well as independent travelers and others—to enjoy unique attractions at different ports of call in Alaska. 92 | May 2020
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Juneau Tours
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A tour group approaches Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Teacherdad48 | iStockphoto
“We run the security, and we have crossing guards to help the large crowds make it off the port safely and into town. We deal with a little bit of everything through the course of a full day.” Dave Dixon, Port Operations Coordinator Ketchikan Port and Harbor
94 | May 2020
Fishing in Homer Homer isn’t a huge destination for cruise ships, which dock there only a few times a month. But when ships call, Alaska Coastal Marine Tours/Rainbow Tours have options for passengers wanting to indulge in Homer’s bestknown pastime: fishing. Rainbow Tours offers half-day halibut charters on a 50foot vessel equipped with restrooms and other amenities. “We have two tour boats,” says reservationist Kathy Rider, who books all the tours. “We do an awful lot of fishing.” The company, which has been in business for about twenty-five years, sees a lot of tourists during the summer, Rider says. However, the bulk of its business is from regularly scheduled tours, not from cruise ship passengers. Whether people are cruise vacationers or regular customers, many of them are attracted to Homer’s beauty and wildlife.
The Kachemak Bay tour gives visitors a chance to indulge in three full hours of wildlife viewing. The tour gives cruise passengers a completely different view from what they would see from a ship. It takes them inside nooks, crannies, and coves, and close to Gull Island seabird rookery. “Our tour boats have knowledgeable people who point out all the attractions,” Rider says. “You see whales, otters, sea birds… It’s a nice little excursion in Homer.”
Birds of a Feather… Flock Here Last year, Sitka’s Alaska Raptor Center had more than 40,000 people pass through its doors. Many of them were cruise goers eager to get an upclose look at the facility’s 200 or so special residents. The center provides an enriching and relevant experience for guests, especially cruise ship passengers. “Any time you’re cruising
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through Southeast Alaska, you’ll see thousands of bald eagles,” says Development Specialist Richard Hart. “Bald eagles are our number one patients. So we get a lot of people who feel like they get a lot from visiting the center because they are informed about something they have been seeing or are going to be seeing on their visit to Alaska.” The Alaska Raptor Center provides medical treatment to any bird in need, not just raptors. Its goal is to heal, rehabilitate, and release all its patients, but some are injured too severely to fully recover and survive in the wild. In such cases, non-releasable birds typically become part of the center’s permanent Raptor-in-Residence team, which includes bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. These creatures are instrumental in teaching the public and school children about the natural history of raptors and their habitats. Education, rehabilitation, and research are integral to the center’s overall mission. These elements all work together to afford cruise passengers and other guests a rare opportunity to see birds of prey in close proximity, learn more about them, and support the center’s efforts to protect, educate, and rehabilitate these magnificent animals. “One of the things we’re proud of is providing something that is not only entertaining but also educational,” Hart says. The Alaska Raptor Center is open for tours May through September from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. There are no organized tours October through April, but guests are welcome to come look around from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Unique flower tower designs at Juneau’s Glacier Gardens feature upside-down trees adorned with colorful plants on top of the roots. Glacier Gardens
fascinating ecosystem and diverse plant and animal life. “We give a nice guided tour, so people get an overall view of the rainforest,” says General Manager Tina Daris. “You can’t help but learn something.” Glacier Gardens receives close to 50,000 visitors annually, with cruise ship passengers representing a “nice chunk ” of its business, Daris says.
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Traipsing through the Tongass Guests who take the Glacier Garden Rainforest Adventures tour in Juneau are in for a multidimensional treat. They get to explore 50 acres of Southeast Alaska’s premier rainforest garden set within the massive Tongass National Forest. Knowledgeable guides escort visitors through the unique botanical garden, enhanced by an informative tour and inventive creations like upside-down flower towers. Guests learn about the temperate rainforest’s www.akbizmag.com
Often Glacier Gardens is sold as part of a group tour for cruise passengers, who also visit the attached Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier, one of about forty large valley glaciers that flow off the Juneau Icefield. One bus takes people to the three destinations, which are all within about a 15mile radius. “I think we offer a nice
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May 2020 | 95
Juneau Tours on a whale watching trip in Lynn Canal. Juneau Tours
“One of the things we’re proud of is providing something that is not only entertaining but also educational.” Richard Hart, Development Specialist Alaska Raptor Center
96 | May 2020
variety… something that people who have limited mobility have a chance to go and see,” she says. Daris says she values the cruise ship industry and its impact on Alaska tourism. She explains: “The cruise ship industry has been so good to us and has helped… the locals to be able to make money. It’s wonderful to have these people who are so happy. Everybody’s happy; they’re on vacation.” Glacier Gardens opens for walk-in tours starting the first week of May from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Whales and Glaciers in Juneau Juneau Tours provides visitors with an exclusive Mendenhall Glacier/whale watching combo tour
that gives guests the opportunity to take the Glacier Shuttle to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors’ Center. From there, they can explore attractions such as Nugget Creek Trails or East Glacier Loop. “It allows them to have a flexible experience at the glacier,” says General Manager Serene Hutchinson. “We’re only one of two companies to offer that [the shuttle] in town.” The Glacier Shuttle, which is provided under a permit with the USDA Forest Service, is a quick and convenient way for cruise passengers and others to travel to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors’ Center. The shuttle does pickup and drop off at the cruise ship terminal next to the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway and enhances Juneau Tours’
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offerings because guests receive an informative, narrated ride of about twenty minutes each way. At the beginning of the trip, the driver introduces passengers to Juneau history, points out famous sites, and gives tips on how to make the most of a visit to the glacier. On the return trip, the driver answers questions and recommends local places for people to shop, dine, and drink. The glacier/whale watching tour is very popular with cruise ship passengers, according to Hutchinson, who says cruise goers make up 90 percent of the 100,000 customers Juneau Tours serves each year. The family-owned business says it differentiates its services by offering affordability, quality, and security. “We www.akbizmag.com
AN OIL TAX BALLOT MEASURE WILL GO BEFORE ALASKA VOTERS LATER THIS YEAR.
More than seven hundred Alaska businesses, Alaska Native Corporations, labor unions, organizations and individuals have joined the coalition opposing this measure because it puts Alaska jobs, our economy and future at risk.
JOIN THE COALITION AT ONEALASKA.COM Paid for by OneALASKA, Anchorage, AK. Chantal Walsh, chair, approved this message. Top contributors are ExxonMobil, Anchorage, Alaska, BP Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, and ConocoPhillips Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska.
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May 2020 | 97
Juneau Tours provides visitors with an exclusive Mendenhall Glacier/whale watching combo tour that gives guests the opportunity to take the Glacier Shuttle to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors’ Center. From there, they can explore attractions such as Nugget Creek Trails or East A tourist takes pictures of Mendenhall Glacier from Nugget Falls.
Glacier Loop.
malisunshine | Twenty20
Calling on the Port
Situated on the southern part of the Southeast Alaska Panhandle in the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan has a population of about 14,000 residents. It also has four large cruise ship berths and two additional locations where ships can anchor to the west of the piers. And almost every day during cruise season, there are four ships docked from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the city-owned port. “We have several days where ships are in from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Dixon says. “We have many times throughout the season where we have 12,000 to 14,000 people visiting per day.” This year, Dixon says he expects the Ketchikan port to receive about 560 cruise ships.
When cruise passengers disembark in Ketchikan, they’re probably not thinking about security or logistics. But Dave Dixon is. As the port operations coordinator for Ketchikan Port and Harbor, he handles a wide range of duties that facilitate the safe movement of passengers from ship to port. There are numerous tour companies and vendors working directly off the port or immediately adjacent in shops. “We run the security, and we have crossing guards to help the large crowds make it off the port safely and into town,” Dixon says. “We deal with a little bit of everything through the course of a full day.” Ketchikan is considered to be the beginning of the Last Frontier as it sits at the southernmost entrance to Alaska's renowned Inside Passage.
It’s easy to spot M&M Tours’ vehicles around Juneau. The company owns and operates ten M&M-colored busses that conduct ground tours to glaciers and historic sites. M&M Tours also has two distinctive red trolleys that traverse the downtown historic district. “The Mendenhall Glacier is our number one best seller,” says President Mariann Cummings. Cruise ship passengers are easily 98 percent of M&M Tours’ business, Cummings says. Her company, which sells directly to guests, strives to keep the rates on its tours where they are affordable for a family of four. “We have boots on the dock; it cuts out the middlemen, so we can list our prices less than what the cruise ships
are not contracted with the cruise lines, so we can set our own rates,” Hutchinson says. “Not only are we cheap, but we can be trusted. Having year af ter year of never leaving anyone behind, people have learned they can trust us with their vacation.” Juneau Tours has been providing bus tours for about twenty years and whale watching since 2011. Hutchinson says she values the business generated as a result of the cruise industry. “I would be nowhere without the cruise lines coming to Juneau,” she says. “They sell out, and we are there to take the overflow.”
98 | May 2020
A Family Affair
offer,” Cummings says. “We offer the same tours that the cruise ships offer but at a family-friendly rate. And we take care of the fees that come with the tour.” In addition to selling its own services, M&M Tours also acts as a broker for other companies, offering everything from kayaking, canoeing, and flightseeing to dog sled and gold panning tours. “Anything you can do in Alaska, we broker that,” Cummings explains. “But we don’t raise the price for the customer. The vendor pays us to sell for them.” Cruise shore excursions can be an important part of visiting Alaska, Cummings says. And if cruise passengers are happy with the tours they take, it can give them a more enjoyable vacation experience. “Cruises are the best way to see Alaska,” she says. “You get to sample all the wonderful places in Alaska... You get a little taste of each one.” M&M Tours’ motto is “Making memories of a lifetime.” But that motto is more than just a nice slogan; it’s something the company practices daily. “There is nothing we enjoy more than sharing our beautiful capital city with guests that come into Juneau,” Cummings says.
Volcanic Tours in Alaska Cruise passengers don’t get to really see Alaska unless they get off the ship and do some exploring. At least, that’s the way Kenneth Rear sees it. Rear owns Sitka Alaska Outfitters with his wife, Debbie, and the bulk of their
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customers are cruise goers. Sitka Alaska Outfitters offers four different shore excursions through the cruise lines—a volcano coast exploration tour, two fly fishing tours, and a 4x4 nature safari. The company also does a considerable amount of business with tourists staying in area fishing lodges who are particularly interested in the 4x4 nature safari. The company endeavors to offer shore excursions that are unique to the area. Its volcano coast exploration tour, for example, takes people on an eco-adventure to explore the rugged volcanic coastline of Kruzof Island, home of Mount Edgecumbe volcano. During the trip—which lasts about 150 minutes—tour goers can expect to see towering cliffs, jagged rocky outcrops, and sea caves, as well as whales, sea lions, tufted puffins, and seabirds in a natural setting. Sitka Alaska Outfitters provides the equipment for the $175 excursion, so all guests need to bring is a camera. Sitka Alaska Outfitters’ excursions complement cruises because they allow people to get outdoors and do something fun and exciting, Rear says. The tours essentially add another dimension to the overall Alaska cruise experience. “When they’re on the ship, they get a good meal, a good place to stay, and a good view from the balcony, but they don’t get a chance to experience and learn about Alaska in depth,” Rear says. “We provide the guides and equipment and expertise to showcase Alaska.” Although Sitka Alaska Outfitters deals with large populations of people on cruise ships, it is a smallgroup (typically six people at a time) excursion company. For visitors who want to make the most of the “Alaska experience”, disembarking from the cruise ship and getting into the great outdoors is paramount. These and other shoreside service providers offer the makings of memories that cannot be replicated anywhere else—from close encounters with wildlife to the feel of the wind whipping off one of Alaska's many glaciers, participating in the wide range of shoreside excursions is a must-do for cruise goers. www.akbizmag.com
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INSIDE ALASKA BUSINESS Providence Alaska Providence Health & Services Alaska opened a new primary care clinic in Anchorage: Providence Medical Group Primary Care Huffman. The new clinic is located at 1389 Huffman Park Drive, Suite 202. The opening of this clinic is part of Providence’s effort to bring care to more people, closer to where they work and live, with extended hours and same-day appointments. alaska.providence.org
Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals announced that Ambler Metals, the joint venture operating company equally owned by Trilogy and South32, has approved the 2020 program and budget of $22.8 million for the advancement of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects located in Northwestern Alaska. The budget is 100 percent funded by Ambler Metals. trilogymetals.com
Firehouse Subs Firehouse Subs opened its first location in Anchorage at 345 West 104th Avenue, Suite 100, serving hot specialty subs and offering a variety of catering options from sandwich and dessert platters to salads and snacks to fuel any occasion. A portion of every sale at any Firehouse Subs in the United States is donated to provide lifesaving equipment, funding, and education to first responders and public safety organizations across the country. firehousesubs.com
Chugach Chugach Electric Association is partnering with five commercial members who were selected to be
participants in an electric vehicle (EV) charging station research project. In exchange for research information, Chugach is providing funding toward the installation of “Level 2” charging stations with universal connectors that can charge any EV. The five members were selected competitively based on criteria such as geographic diversity and activities available while charging. They are: Alyeska Resort, Creekbend Company (in Hope), Dimond Center, JL Properties (at the South Restaurant retail center), and the Municipality of Anchorage (in the parking lot east of Rustic Goat). As part of the program Chugach will contribute up to $7,500 toward the actual installed cost of the charging facility. The charging station will be selected, installed, owned, and maintained by the customer for the duration of the three-year research period. The goal of the partnership and research program is to better understand the driving habits and charging needs of EV owners as well as the extent to which chargers are used in commercial areas. Chugach’s most recent count of EVs shows there are more than 150 all-electric vehicles registered in the Municipality of Anchorage (not including plug-in hybrid vehicles). chugachelectric.com
AIDEA The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) Board approved a resolution that authorizes AIDEA to provide a loan of up to $7.5 million to HEX for a natural gas production project in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The loan to HEX is in support of the company’s bid to
acquire the Kitchen Lights offshore unit and related infrastructure out of bankruptcy from Furie Operating Alaska. Funding will be used for acquiring and developing the Beluga and Sterling Formations within the Kitchen Lights Unit, along with existing infrastructure including a 15-mile subsea pipeline, an on-shore production facility, and off-shore production platform. The HEX acquisition will initially create fifteen new jobs in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, with more jobs expected as development of the Kitchen Lights Unit continues to advance. This natural resource development project will also generate millions in revenue annually to both the state and borough. aidea.org
Northrim Northrim Bank opened a Loan Production Office in Kodiak, located at 2011 Mill Bay Road adjacent to Residential Mortgage, Northrim’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The Kodiak Loan Production Office is open to the public and provides lending-related services such as loan information and applications. northrim.com
Cape Fox Corporation | Bar Harbor Ale House Cape Fox Corporation’s newest business addition, Bar Harbor Ale House, opened in Ketchikan. Bar Harbor is a small, intimate restaurant that sits on Tongass Avenue with a view of the mountains and waterway and opened with a fully renovated interior and a brand new menu. capefoxcorp.com
ECONOMIC INDIC ATOR S ANS Crude Oil Production 512,952 barrels 1.5% change from previous month
$21.80 per barrel 56% change from previous month
338,971 Labor Force 5.9% Unemployment
4/1/2020 Source: Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division
4/1/2020 Source: Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division
2/1/2020. Adjusted seasonally. Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Developement
100 | May 2020
ANS West Coast Crude Oil Prices
Statewide Employment
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RIGHT MOVES Alaska Railroad The Alaska Railroad promoted Sean Mesloh to Chief Mechanical Officer. Mesloh began his railroad career nearly two decades Mesloh ago in December 2000; he moved up the ranks and in 2019 took on his most recent position as the manager of motive power and equipment for the railroad. Mesloh earned an associate degree in fire science and hazardous material control from UAF.
Alaska USA Chris Brown has been selected to fill the position of Executive Director, Consumer Lending. In that role, some of Brown’s Brown responsibilities include ensuring the efficiency, effectiveness, and control of operations while assisting with the credit union’s goals and strategies. Brown is an accomplished leader with more than twenty-five years of industry experience, including twelve years with Ford Motor Credit Company. He has been employed with Alaska USA since 2017, most recently as senior vice president, special credits.
R&M Consultants AJ Behm recently joined R&M Consultants as a Staff Engineer in the firm’s Surface Transportation Group. Behm will assist with planning and design of civil engineering projects, with
an emphasis in roadways, pedestrian facilities, and utility relocations. Behm brings a background in construction to his work Behm at R&M. During college breaks, he interned for Knik Construction and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Behm has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from UAF. David Carlson and Peter Yoo recently passed the Principles & Practice of Engineering exam, gaining their Professional Civil Carlson Engineer licenses. Carlson has been with R&M since 2014. He is a Project Engineer in R&M’s Surface Transportation Group and has worked on a variety of transportation projects, including road improvements, pavement preservation, and traffic safety improvements. Carlson is currently involved with the Muldoon Road: DeBarr to E 36th Ave Pavement Preservation project, where he is providing design for pavement, safety improvements, pedestrian and bike accommodations, and utility relocations. Carlson has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from UAA. He is also a member of the Alaska Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Yoo is a Project Engineer in R&M’s Construction Administration Group where he provides construction document Yoo review, quality control oversight, and a variety of inspections during construction. He has worked on numerous airport and highway
construction projects throughout the state since joining R&M in 2012. Yoo is currently involved with the Aniak Airport Runway Shift and Toksook Bay Airport and Access Road Rehabilitation projects. He has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from UAA.
Alaska Peninsula Corporation The Alaska Peninsula Corporation (APC) appointed Brad Angasan to the position of President. Angasan has been with Angasan APC for nearly fifteen years and has served in several roles and capacities. Originally from South Naknek, Angasan is an APC descendentshareholder and represents the next generation of Native leaders at APC. In addition to corporate governance, Angasan oversees government and business relations and continues to oversee development of APC’s 400,000 acres of land assets throughout the Bristol Bay region.
KeyBank Jake Slingsby has been named Vice President and Commercial Banking Manager with KeyBank’s Fairbanks team. In this Slingsby role, he provides advice that is aligned to the clients business objectives and lifecycle, underwrites complex credits, develops new business, and builds strong relationships with prospects. With more than fourteen
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102 | May 2020
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years of commercial and business banking experience, Slingsby has held several positions of increasing responsibility. Slingsby earned his bachelor’s in business administration, finance, economics, and management from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and his master’s from the University of Montana in Missoula.
Goldbelt The board of directors of Goldbelt selected McHugh Pierre to serve as its next President and CEO. He has filled this role in an interim capacity since April 2019. Pierre joined Pierre Goldbelt in March 2015 as vice president of Alaska Operations. Prior to joining Goldbelt, Pierre owned and operated Quantum Communications, a public relations and government affairs firm. In addition, he has served as deputy commissioner and director of public and government Affairs at the State of Alaska’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as director of public relations in the Office of Governor Frank Murkowski when he was in office.
Crowley Fuels Trish Skoglund has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Supply for Crowley Fuels. As a key member of the Alaska executive team, Skoglund she is responsible for the strategic oversight of fuel sales and supply for customers statewide. Skoglund is based in Anchorage and has spent the last twelve years in the oil and gas industry in Alaska. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Portland State University and a master’s in
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global business from University of Portland. Skoglund holds a Project Management Professional certificate.
ACPA Codie Costello is the new President and COO of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (ACPA). In 2005 Costello started Costello working with the ACPA as director of development. She went on to work at Alaska Dance Theatre and Spawn Ideas before rejoining ACPA as vice president, strategic development and communications in the summer of 2018. Costello received an MFA in directing from the Actors Studio in New York City and her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts management from San Jose State University.
Northrim Bank Northrim Bank announced several promotions within the Retail Banking and Credit Administration departments. Chris Chambos was promoted to AVP, Retail Investment Services Manager; he has been with Northrim Bank for nearly nine years Chambos and has sixteen years of experience in the financial industry. He is a licensed investment advisor representative and insurance agent with the bank. In his new role, based out of Northrim’s Eastside Community Branch in Anchorage, Chambos will help with the overall direction of Northrim Investment Services to include retention and asset growth under management. Maureen Swartwood has been promoted to AVP, Branch Manager II at the
Alaska Business
Southside Financial Center. She joined Northrim bank in 2018 with fifteen years of experience in the financial industry. Swartwood started as Swartwood a teller and worked in various positions to become a branch manager at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. Swartwood moved to Alaska after growing up in Fiji. Northrim Bank has also hired long-time Kodiak resident Mark Anderson a VP– Commercial Loan Officer IV; he will be located at the bank’s new Loan Production Office in Kodiak. Anderson joins Northrim with twenty-two years of experience in the financial industry. He worked as a vice president and branch manager Anderson in Seward and Kodiak. Most recently, Anderson was the CFO for Brechan Construction in Kodiak, beginning in 2014. He holds a bachelor of arts from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Christina Clayton has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager II at the Eastside Community Branch; she has been with Northrim Bank Clayton since 2016 and has nearly five years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining Northrim, she had more than thirty years of experience in retail sales management. Clayton holds an occupational associate degree in retail management. James Larson, promoted to AVP, Special Credits Officer II, joined Northrim in 2019 with six years of experience in the financial industry. Larson He has worked at financial institutions in Alaska and Nevada and attended UAA.
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ALASKA TRENDS The Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) is an Alaska icon. In many ways, building TAPS built Alaska’s economy, and the oil that’s traveled its length has provided funds for communities and individuals across the state for more than forty years. While every Alaskan knows at least a little something about TAPS, there’s a lot to know, so we’ve compiled some information here about the pipeline and the stories it has inspired.
TAPS FAST FACTS
Crosses 3 mountain ranges extends more than 800 miles
AIR TEMPERATURE RANGE
-80°F to 95°F
PIPE DIAMETER
MAXIMUM GRADE
NUMBER OF VALVES
HIGHEST ELEVATION
48 inches
145% or 55°
178
4,739 feet
RIVER AND STREAM CROSSINGS
42 gallons per barrel
500 + 34 major SOURCE: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, 2019 Trans Alaska Pipeline System Facts
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Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
TAPS &
POP CULTURE PIPE DREAMS
HAUL ROAD
Movie and song by Gladys Knight. This is the first film that uses the construction of TAPS as an essential part of its action. (1976)
The 358-mile Dalton Highway that extends from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay was built by Alyeska in 1974.
COST APPROXIMATELY
$125 million
ON DEADLY GROUND
CONSTRUCTION TOOK
5 months and 3 million hours
Featuring Steven Seagal and filmed on location in Valdez, this movie made Siskel and Ebert's list of the ten worst movies of the year. (1994)
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE In this film, the Simpson family is treated with a $1,000 check upon entering Alaska and is told it's a payoff from oil companies. (2007)
30 DAYS OF NIGHT This vampire film features characters that are pipeline workers. (2007)
PIG FREQUENCY
“The pipeline is also a central figure in many, many badly reviewed novels.” ~ Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
In 2002, the pipeline
Smart pigs run every 3 years Scraper pigs run every 6 days
FAULTS CROSSED BY THE PIPELINE
withstood a 7.9
Denali, McGinnis Glacier, and Donnelly Dome
earthquake, the largest earthquake on the Denali Faultline since 1912. www.akbizmag.com
Alaska Business
May 2020 | 105
ADVERTISERS INDEX Aaron Plumbing & Heating Company.............................73
Cruz Companies...............................47
PND Engineers Inc............................57
cruzconstruct.com
pndengineers.com
aaronak.com
Delta Constructors...........................67
Polaris Law Group P.C......................39
Afognak Leasing LLC................. 59, 65
deltaconstructors.net
polarislawgroupak.com
alutiiq.com
Dorsey & Whitney LLP......................79
Resolve Marine Group......................87
Ahtna Inc...........................................83
dorsey.com
resolvemarine.com
ahtna.net
Doyon Limited..................................25
Resource Development Council..... 46
Airport Equipment Rentals.............107
doyon.com
akrdc.org
airportequipmentrentals.com
First National Bank Alaska...................5
RISQ Consulting................................37
Alaska Communications.....................3
fnbalaska.com
risqconsulting.com
acsalaska.com
Foss Maritime....................................78
Span Alaska Transportation LLC.......75
Alaska Energy Services LLC AES....................................................39
foss.com
spanalaska.com
alaskaenergyservices.com
GCI....................................................51 gci.com
State of Alaska DOHSS Substance Misuse & Addiction Prevention...........9
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.................................... 108 anthc.org
Alaska Oil & Gas Assoc. AOGA................................................97 aoga.org
Alaska Railroad..................................41 alaskarailroad.com
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union......................................23 alaskausa.org
All American Oifield Services...........41 allamericanoilfield.com
Altman Rogers & Co.........................11 altrogco.com
Arctic Information Technology........35 arcticit.com
ARCTOS Alaska/Nortech Engineering...................................... 45
Island Air Express..............................61
workplaceaddiction.dhss.alaska.gov
islandairx.com
Stellar Designs Inc.............................71
Leonardo DRS...................................17
stellar-designs.com
LeonardoDRS.com
Technipress...................................... 99
LONG Building Technologies.......... 28
tpress.net
long.com/alaska
The Lakefront Anchorage.................73
Lynden Inc.........................................85
millenniumhotels.com/en/anchorage/the-lakefront-anchorage
lynden.com
Tutka LLC..........................................77
Material Flow & Conveyor Systems Inc...................................... 29
tutkallc.com
akflow.com
UA Local 375 Plumbers & Pipefitters......................................... 49
Matson Inc........................................81
ualocal375.org
matson.com
Udelhoven Oilfield System Services Inc.......................................74
NANA Regional Corp........................76 nana.com
Nenana Heating Services Inc.......... 28
udelhoven.com
United States Census Bureau...........21
nenanahaetingservices.net
census.gov
New Horizons Telecom, Inc.............55
United Way of Anchorage................15
nortechengr.com
nhtiusa.com
liveunitedanchorage.org
AT&T..................................................33
North Slope Telecom.......................11
Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau...............................................93
att.com
nstiak.com
Bradison Management Group - BMG....................................91
Northern Air Cargo................ 102, 103 nac.aero
bmgak.com
Northrim Bank..................................13
Calista Corp..................................... 24
northrim.com
calistacorp.com
Oxford Assaying & Refining Inc.......................................95
Carlile Transportation Systems.........63 carlile.biz
oxfordmetal.com
Central Environmental Inc. CEI.................................................... 89
Pacific Alaska Lumber...................... 88
Westmark Hotels - HAP Alaska.........97 westmarkhotels.com
Yukon Equipment Inc........................31 yukoneq.com
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pacaklumber.com
cei-alaska.com
Pacific Pile & Marine.......................101
Chugach Alaska Corp.......................19
pacificpile.com
chugach.com
Parker Smith & Feek......................... 69
Conrad-Houston Insurance Agency............................ 88
psfinc.com
chialaska.com
pdceng.com
Construction Machinery Industrial CMI......................................................2
Petrotechnical Resources Alaska PRA................................................... 43
cmiak.com
petroak.com
106 | May 2020
valdez.alaska.org
PDC Inc. Engineers.......................... 99
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