JSC “Stroytransgaz” has completed installation of the pipeline in two tunnel crossings in the Bezymianny mountain ridge 196 and 988 meters long at the construction of the Russia – Turkey gas pipeline (“Blue Stream”) in the Caucasus Mountains.
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
JSC “Stroytransgaz” has completed installation of the pipeline in two tunnel crossings in the Bezymianny mountain ridge 196 and 988 meters long at the construction of the Russia – Turkey gas pipeline (“Blue Stream”) in the Caucasus Mountains.
The installation process of pushing the pipeline through the tunnels in the Bezymianny ridge was carried out during three weeks. In the opinion of Mr. Alexander Vorobiov, the Vice-President of “Stroytransgaz”, this became possible mainly thanks to the experience of similar work carried out during installation of the gas pipeline in the tunnel crossing of the Kobyla ridge. As it was informed earlier construction of two separate tunnel crossings in the Bezymianny ridge was conditioned by peculiar and complicated relief because the mountain is separated into two parts by depression with big landslides and tectonic faults. Construction of the tunnel 988 meters long was carried out by using the Lovat mining machine of the Canadian firm in accordance with the technology which was used in the Kobyla ridge with the use of the tunneling shield method and pre-cast reinforced concrete slab finishing. For construction of the tunnel 196 meters long another method was used. The rock was worked with the tunneling machine with provision of temporary supports and monolithic reinforced concrete finishing with surface waterproofing. The tunnels were constructed and the pipeline was installed by pushing in the tunnel crossings by the “Mostovik” Research and Production Association (the town of Omsk). This company has a vast experience in working rock. Welding and assembly works during installation of the gas pipeline in the tunnels were assisted by JSC “Zakneftegazstroy-Prometey” (the city of Erevan). The tunnel crossing method is widely used in the world practice of the pipeline construction, however in Russia this method was used for the first time by “Stroytransgaz” company at the construction of the Russia – Turkey main gas pipeline. The use of technology of the tunnel crossing method in mountains was justified and given a strong reason because of natural calamities in the Krasnodar area. The natural disaster which destroyed a living camp and damaged a number of auxiliary facilities of the main gas pipeline caused no damage to the tunnels. It has been planned to supply gas to the “Beregovaya” Compressor Station at the end of November.
