Russia’s OAO Lukoil has announced it is accepting bids for construction of its North Caspian-region Artesian-OOO Stavrolen natural gas pipeline. The planned 263.3 km, 28 in. pipeline will carry 8 billion m3/yr. It is expected to enter service by May 2015.
The pipeline will transport gas produced at Lukoil’s North Caspian oilfields to a polyethylene/polypropylene plant at the Lukoil subsidiary Stavrolen industrial site, in the Stavropol region of Russia, close to the Georgian border. Market-grade gas will travel from Stavrolen to the Gazprom pipeline system.
Lukoil has said it expects Stage 1 of gas processing for the polymer plant to enter service in 2015, at 2 billion m3/yr.
Transmission lines
In addition, Lukoil plans to build power transmission lines along the pipeline route – including 22 transformer substations, 24 control points, telecommunication lines, and other infrastructure facilities – to ensure its efficient operation. A leak detection system and an electrochemical protection system, will protect the new pipeline, as well as other technical security devices, Lukoil said.
Edited from various sources by Cecilia Rehn