Chornomornaftogaz builds Ukraine's longest underwater pipeline

PJSC Chornomornaftogaz has completed the construction of an 83-kilometer underwater pipeline, linking the platforms BK-1 of Odeske and MSP-4 of Holytsynske gas fields, the company's press service told UKRINFORM.

«Today, November 20, a team of welders of the construction department of the state joint stock company Chornomornaftogaz have welded the 'golden joint' of the 83-kilometer undersea gas pipeline, which connect the platforms BK-1 of Odeske gas field and MSP-4 of Holytsynske gas condensate field,» the press service says.

After the commissioning effort, the natural gas produced at the Odeske field will flow by the new tube to the functioning gas pipeline, and then to the shore gas transportation system of Crimea.

The construction of the underwater pipeline was carried out 76-155 kilometers off the shore, using a special pipe laying barge, GMC Pride. Part of the pipeline was welded ashore, and another part was made by the automatic welding of pipes with their subsequent laying on the seabed. The total duration of the construction took 2.5 months.

In all, up to 10 vessels of the specialized technological fleet of Chornomornaftogaz were involved in the pipeline construction effort.

Odeske field has a reserve of 21 billion cubic meters of natural gas and is the largest deposit to have been discovered by Chornomornaftogaz in the Black Sea.

In September 2012, industrial gas mining started on the site. Currently, production drilling is conducted by the jack-up Petro Hodovanets. By the end of the year, a second drilling rig, Nezalezhnіst, will join it.

According to Chornomornaftogaz estimates, development of the Odeske field, together with Bezimenne, will serve as a basis for a program of a threefold increase in production - from 1.05 billion cubic meters in 2011 to 3 billion cubic meters in 2015.

Adapted from Ukrinform