The Landmen

How They Secured the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Right-of-Way

Armand Spielman had no idea of the overwhelming task before him! It was March 1969 and Armand had accepted a temporary position as a landman for the company that would build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. His task–acquire the project right-of-way so that crude oil would flow from the oil-producing fields of Prudhoe Bay to the ice-free port of Valdez where it would be shipped to west-coast refineries. Later, realizing the daunting task at hand, Armand recruited his long-time friend Jay Sullivan. Jay assembled an unlikely group of men who proved that ingenuity, perseverance, and a bit of naivety could get the job done. This is their story–the struggles and obstacles overcome to obtain the land needed to build the great Alaskan pipeline.