How a young engineer navigated permafrost to develop one of most ambitious and uncertain projects in the world

In 1973, Elden Johnson was a young engineer working on one of the most ambitious and uncertain projects in the world — an 800-mile steel pipeline that carried warm oil over frozen ground. Decades later, Johnson looked back at what he called “the greatest story ever told of man’s interaction with permafrost.”

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The long-term performance of the trans-Alaska pipeline described in this post highlights both the engineering challenges and ongoing risks associated with operating critical infrastructure on permafrost. Similar issues have been observed elsewhere, as detailed in Sinking Permafrost Sinks Pipelines In Russia And Canada, which notes that nearly 70% of current infrastructure on permafrost—including pipelines—is at risk from thawing ground, with significant maintenance and damage costs projected as the climate continues to warm. While the pipeline's robust, adaptive design has prevented permafrost-related spills in recent decades, as noted in Trans-Alaska pipeline under threat from thawing permafrost, ongoing monitoring remains vital due to the frequency of breaches attributed to other causes and the continuing threat posed by permafrost thaw. The interplay between climate change, oil infrastructure, and economic activity is also discussed in Facing catastrophic climate change, they still can’t quit Big Oil, which describes the complex dynamics facing Arctic communities as oil development expands despite rising climate risks. Together, these related posts reinforce the main post's message: that building and maintaining infrastructure on permafrost requires both innovative engineering and continual adaptation in response to a rapidly changing environment.