I finally got around to reading up on the Alaskan Pipeline corrosion story. I couldn't understand the problem of shutting down the pipeline for maintenance and discovering corrosion when I understood the pipeline was routinely stopped for yearly inspections and maintenance. Apparently I was wrong on that. There are little devices that get sent through the pipeline for that kind of work, so that they don't have to stop the flow of oil.

And the corrosion apparently affects sixteen mile of pipe. I don't know how that compares with other pipelines, but it doesn't sound like something that can be done quickly.

Oh, and BP wasn't using the mechanical "pigs" that inspect and clean the pipe from the inside.