Saint Petersburg hosted today a meeting moderated by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and dedicated to designing and construction of the Ukhta – Torzhok, Pochinki – Gryazovets, Gryazovets – Vyborg, SRTO – Torzhok gas pipelines and linear compressor stations as well as to expanding the Gryazovets gas transmission hub.

Taking part in the meeting were heads and experts from Gazprom's specialized subdivisions, subsidiaries, engineering and contracting companies.

The meeting participants noted the high rate of construction activities on building up the gas transmission capacities in Northwestern Russia.

Namely, mounting and startup operations as well as pressure tests of three gas pumping units with the total capacity of 75 MW were performed at the Gryazovetskaya compressor station (CS) – a key facility of the Gryazovets gas transmission hub. Thus, the total capacity of the compressor stations now reaches 339 MW. The three new units are required for gas transmission over the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas pipeline.

Linepipe loopings construction is carried on at the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas pipeline. Construction of the compressor shops scheduled for commissioning this year is being completed at the Volkhovskaya CS making part of the gas pipeline system. Startup operations are underway at the Elizavetinskaya and Babaevskaya CSs.

75 per cent of the Pochinki – Gryazovets linepipe have been welded and trenched. Construction and mounting activities are underway at the Vyaznikovskaya CS while the Ivanovskaya and Lukoyanovskaya CSs undergo startup operations.

Construction of the Sindorskaya, Urdomskaya, Nyuksenitskaya CSs that will make part of the SRTO – Torzhok gas pipeline is carried on.

Previously, Gazprom's expert group headed by Alexander Ananenkov visited the Portovaya CS construction site located on the Baltic Sea coast near Vyborg, Leningrad Oblast.

So far, hydraulic testing to check up the junction point durability has been completed as well as testing of the gas treatment unit to feed gas into Nord Stream. Gas from the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas trunkline was supplied to the junction point. All the units and facilities of the station ensuring gas supply to Nord Stream are ready for operation.

Based on the meeting results, specialized subdivisions, subsidiaries and contracting agencies were given the tasks aimed at timely implementation of gas transmission projects in Northwestern Russia.

Background

Gazprom is taking large-scale efforts to develop the Russian Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) and diversifying gas export routes in parallel with building up gas production capacities. In this respect, northwestward expansion of the gas transmission system has a particular significance. It is required for secure gas transmission from the Yamal Peninsula where a new gas production center is emerging as well as for timely delivery of natural gas into the Nord Stream offshore gas pipeline and for increasing the reliability of gas supplies to consumers in Northwestern Russia.

The work is currently being performed to expand the Gryazovets gas transmission hub which is a crucial component of the Northern gas transmission corridor. The Gryazovets hub will convey gas to the Nord Stream offshore gas pipeline starting from September 2011. The Gryazovetskaya CS is a key facility of the Gryazovets hub. The work is underway to increase the station capacity from 264 to 389 MW.

Nord Stream will be fed from the Gryazovets – Vyborg gas pipeline. Its length is 900 kilometers and nominal capacity – 55 billion cubic meters of gas. The gas pipeline runs across the Vologda and the Leningrad Oblasts. Domestically manufactured pipes and new generation shutoff valves are used for the linepipe. The pipeline crossings through large watercourses are built using the horizontal directional drilling and microtunneling techniques, which allow avoiding an impact on river ecosystems during the gas pipeline construction and operation process. The gas pipeline will be commissioned in a phased manner starting from 2011. The linear part of the gas pipeline (900 kilometers) has been constructed so far and a 700-kilometer-long looping system is under construction. The gas pipeline is to achieve the nominal capacity by late 2012.

The Pochinki – Gryazovets gas pipeline construction is oriented at raising the UGSS reliability and flexibility in Northwestern and Central Russia. Initially, the pipeline will secure additional gas supplies to the Northwestern region and, inter alia, convey gas to Nord Stream. Further on, with the first natural gas deliveries from Yamal, the pipeline will be switched to reverse flow and gas will be rerouted to the Central region.

The Pochinki – Gryazovets gas pipeline will run across the Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl and Vologda Oblasts. The 1,420-millimeter pipeline will stretch for approximately 650 kilometers and operate at the working pressure of 75 atmospheres. Its full throughput will reach 36 billion cubic meters a year. The pipeline construction began in September 2007.

The Ukhta – Torzhok gas trunkline system is designed for the Yamal gas delivery to the Central region. It will be 1,300 kilometers long with the annual throughput of 90 billion cubic meters and the working pressure of 100 atmospheres.

The Portovaya CS will ensure gas transmission via Nord Stream. It will be a unique gas transmission facility in terms of the aggregate capacity (366 MW), working pressure (220 atmospheres), gas transmission distance (1,200 kilometers) and daily gas dehydration volume (170 million cubic meters). When constructing the station, Gazprom utilizes novel equipment and state-of-the-art technologies.