Gryazovets – Vyborg Pipeline

Construction on the 900 km section of the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas pipeline was completed in late 2010 and looping expansion of the pipeline is now currently underway.

Designed to supply 55 Bcm/a of gas to the Nord Stream Pipeline and consumers in the northwestern region of Russia, the pipeline passes through the Vologda and Leningrad regions.

The main pipeline has a diameter of 56 inches while the X70 pipe used for the looping lines are 56 inches and 48 inches in diameter.

Seven compressor stations will be constructed along the pipeline, which will have an operating pressure of 9.8 MPa once the expansion is complete. In particular, the Portovaya Compressor Station, which will be located in Portovaya Bay near the city of Vyborg, will be a unique gas transmission system facility with a capacity of 366 MW, the first of its kind in Russia.

A total of six compressors with a capacity of 52 MW, and two compressors with a capacity of 27 MW will be built at the Portovaya Compressor Station. A 52 MW compressor will be used for the first time in the history of operating the Unified Gas Supply System of Russia.

The pipeline will be put into operation in stages throughout 2011 and is scheduled to operate at full capacity by the end of 2012.

Pochinki – Gryazovets Pipeline

Currently, over 300 km of the 56 inch diameter, 650 km Pochinki – Gryazovets Pipeline and an associated compressor station have been put into service.

Considered as an interconnection link between Russia’s northern and central gas transport corridors, the X60 steel grade Pochinki – Gryazovets gas pipeline has been designed to increase reliability and flexibility of Russia’s Unified Gas Supply System.

Prior to the commissioning of the Yamal fields, the pipeline will transport gas to the northwestern regions of Russia and supply the Nord Stream Pipeline. After the Yamal fields have been commissioned, the pipeline will provide transportation in the reverse direction to Russia’s central region.

A total of six compressor stations will be constructed along the pipeline, which will have an operating pressure of 7.4 MPa and the capacity to transport up to 36 Bcm/a of gas.

Construction of the linear part of the gas pipeline and installation of two more compressor stations will be completed by the end of 2011. The remaining three compressor stations will be installed as required.

Ukhta – Torzhok Pipeline

Construction of the 1,300 km Ukhta – Torzhok gas pipeline will commence in 2011.

The Ukhta – Torzhok Pipeline was conceived during the development programme for the Yamal fields. It will become part of a new system for transporting Yamal gas, particularly from the Bovanenkovskoye Field, to Russia’s Unified Gas Supply System starting from the third quarter of 2012.

The 56 inch diameter pipeline will pass through the Republic of Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda and Tver regions and have an operating pressure of 9.8 MPa.

Three lines have been proposed to be constructed from Ukhta to Gryazovets with a single line is to be constructed between Gryazovets and Torzhok, and there are plans to build nine compressor stations.

Under the first stage of the project, one line will be constructed from Ukhta to Gryazovets, stretching 970 km and with a design capacity of 45 Bcm/a.

Stroygazconsulting and Stroygazmontazh were selected as prime contractors for the first stage of the Ukhta – Torzhok Pipeline and have scheduled phased commissioning of the first line for 2012–13.

A Gazprom spokesperson has said that the decision on construction for the second stage of the project will be made in line with development of production at the Yamal Peninsula.

Microtunnelling through challenges

According to Gazprom, the conditions under which the construction of the Gryazovets – Vyborg, Pochinki – Gryazovets and Ukhta – Torzhok gas pipelines are being conducted are quite typical for Russian gas pipeline routes in that they must cross watercourses, rivers and wetlands.

During the construction of the Gryazovets– Vyborg Pipeline, microtunneling was used to cross large water obstacles including the Neva River and the Saimaa Canal. Microtunneling was carried out by Metrostroy subsidiary Tonnelny Otryad-44.

This represents the first time a major gas pipeline has crossed a river using microtunneling technology in Russia.