The circular flow of all of the revenue back into the same hands.  The pipeline owners own the entire operation from wellhead to retail pump.  They own the lawyers who litigated the case.  All of their "expenses" are just part of the circular system to never pay out a dime.  Payments to Alaska state and federal government are deducted in Alyeska books.  Pure profit without real cost to any of the oil owners.  The system is rigged right up to the DC appeals court which exists only to serve the national Corporate interests as a barrier to any judicial proceeding going any giant Corporations.  Sending the appeal to DC instead of the West Coast appeal court where the parties are actually involved is to guarantee favorable ruling from a corrupt judicial component staffed by long-time Republican appointees serving the Corporate Oligarchy.