Transneft hooks up backup line of underwater crossing of Khor River to ESPO pipeline
KHABAROVSK. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Transneft Far East has completed hooking up a backup line of a trunk oil pipeline underwater crossing of the Khor River in Khabarovsk Territory to the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline system, the Russian oil pipeline monopoly reported.
The whole trunk pipeline underwater crossing runs 11.3 km, including an 8.8 km linear section and two underwater sections across the Kiya and Khor rivers.
"In the course of the project's implementation, stop valve stations and pig launcher-receivers were equipped, high-voltage power lines were overhauled and communication and security engineering systems were modernized. The technical connection of the trunk pipeline underwater crossing was carried out by Transneft-Far East specialists. More than 45 people and 18 pieces of equipment were involved in the work," Transneft said.
The backup line was built to enhance the operational reliability of the ESPO pipeline. Before the hookup, the company carried out several stages of hydraulic tests, as well as in-line inspections using flaw detectors, radiographic and ultrasound testing of the pipeline.
Projects to build backup lines for underwater crossings of rivers in Russia's Far East are being carried out in four regions of the Far East Federal District. The longest line, running 34 km, was built across the Amur River.
Transneft Far East was established in 2009 to act as the investor and subsequent operator of the second phase of the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline system, or ESPO-2. The company operates in four regions, maintaining 2,341 km of oil pipelines, including 2,047 km of the ESPO-2 and the 294 km branch pipeline to the Komsomolsk Oil Refinery, and 15 oil pumping stations.
The ESPO transports oil from fields in Eastern Siberia to Russian refineries and for export through the Port of Kozmino. The pipeline is operating at maximum design capacity, carrying 80 million tonnes per year from the Taishet main pump station to the Skovorodino pump station and 50 million tonnes per year along the section from the Skovorodino station to the Kozmino oil handling seaport.
