OAO Stroytransgaz has completed the stress-testing of the Yamal – Europe Trunk Pipeline Russian Section
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
OAO Stroytransgaz has completed the stress-testing of the Yamal – Europe Trunk Pipeline Russian Section
The stress-testing is being applied to comply with the strict quality requirements of the Project Investor, OAO Gazprom. The testing procedure conforms to the European Testing Standards for pipeline soundness and leakproofness. Stress-testing also allows for an objective reliability analysis for a facility constructed.
The CS Torjokskaya – CS Smolenskaya section of the pipeline is 335 km long. Due to the swampy soils special activities were required to install the testing equipment at this section.
The hydraulic testing revealed no defects or faults at the line.
OAO Orgenergogaz participated in the testing.
The pipeline is being drained and dewatered at the moment. OAO Stroytransgaz is planning to complete the along-route power line installation, cathodic protection station, filling for access roads and furnishing block valve stations by the end of 2003.
The basic start-up of the Torjok - Smolensk section will be possible in January 2004. The complete start-up of the Yamal – Europe Pipeline Russian Section is planned for the second half next year.
Note:
The length of Yamal – Europe pipeline from Torjok to Byelorussia – Poland boarder is 997 km. OAO Stroytransgaz is the General Contractor for the Russian – Byelorussian section under the contracts with project Clients, ZAO Yamalgazinvest and RUP Byeltransgaz.
In September 1999 Stroytransgaz put in commission the 109 km long CS Slonim – Poland Boarder section located in Byelorussia. Russian gas is already supplied to Western Europe via this section.
In 2000 the Company commissioned Nesvidz Compressor Station with total capacity of 80 MW.
In July 2002, 335 – 586 km section (from CS Smolyenskaya to the Beryezina River) was commissioned. 67 km of this section are located in Russia, and 184 km in Byelorussia. Gas transportation started in August. Major activities at 586 – 768 km section (from the Beryezina River to CS Nesvidz) were executed also in 2002. After this section was commissioned the entire Line from Smolensk to Poland Boarder was complete.
