Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline

Stroytransgaz has participated in construction of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline since 2006. The ESPO is the first pipeline for transporting Russian hydrocarbon resources in the direction of the Asia-Pacific Region.

Of the nearly 2,700 kilometers in the first stage of the main pipeline’s construction, Stroytransgaz constructed seven sections whose lengths total 488.7 kilometers with diameters of 1,067 millimeters and 1,220 millimeters. As general contractor, Stroytransgaz built all objects at the Skovorodino pumping station along the route of the Eastern Siberia—Pacific Ocean main oil pipeline as well. The station is located at the terminus of the first line of the ESPO pipeline system. The Skovorodino facility are comprise 80 buildings and structures; they include the pumping station, tank farm with six reservoirs each having capacity to store 50,000 cubic meters of oil and three reservoirs each having capacity to store 5,000 cubic meters, cable racks, fire extinguishing systems, administrative and housing facilities, water supply and sewerage systems, and two 110 kV electric power lines each running 23 kilometers.

The second part of the transportation corridor is extending from the Skovorodino oil pumping station to the Kozmino specialized oil-loading seaport. The total length of this section of the ESPO pipeline is 2,046 kilometers, the working pressure is 10 MPa. As general contractor, Stroytransgaz will build a 198 km pipeline with diameter of 1,067 millimeters within the 2,694.0 km—2,891.0 km section. The scope of work also includes construction of 8 line valve stations as well as cleaning and diagnostic chamber, cathode protection systems, along-the-route 6 (10) kV electric power line, 10 kV HV booster from the Magdagachy substation (220 / 35 / 10) to the along-the-route 10 kV electric power line, 2 helicopter decks, telemetry system for the pipeline linear part and installation of technical security equipment.

Construction of the ESPO poses a number of obstacles that must be overcome: difficult climatic conditions, land relief with sharply broken ground, many permafrost locations and rocky material, seismic activity of six to nine points on the Richter scale, presence of cryogenic processes, lack of industrial and transportation infrastructure. Moreover, the ESPO is the first oil pipeline on Russian territory tailored for working pressure of 10 MPa. Its pressure requires higher technology to ensure reliability in the facility’s exploitation and necessitates using the newest technology and equipment during construction. 

In undertaking this work, Stroytransgaz drew on several of its subsidiaries and branches—Belstroytransgaz, Neftegazspetsstroy, Yuzhtruboprovodstroy, Neftegazstroycontrol, Stroytransgaz-Vostok, and the Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Tynda and Irkutsk branches.

First phase of the project was completed in 2009. The second phase have to be completed in 2012.

Technology 

  • Use of K60 and K70 steel grade pipe, which have higher exploitation reliability and guaranteed viscoplastic properties in temperatures as low as –60°С (wall thickness of 16 millimeters to 24 millimeters, and with submerged crossings—22 millimeters to 27
  • Automatic pipe welding
  • Application of welding technology using materials developed especially for construction of the ESPO by the world’s leading companies—Lincoln, Kobe Steel, and Beler
  • Radiography to achieve 100 percent control over joint welds and an ultrasonic method where seams are joined for fittings and tie-ins
  • Construction of submerged crossings using horizontal directional drilling and micro-tunneling
  • Use of advanced methods for recultivating disturbed lands, facilitating preservation and reclamation of the natural soil layer