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The Blue Stream pipeline and
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The Blue Stream is a unique gas transmission network |
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High quality corrosion-resistant steel pipes were used for the Blue Stream construction |
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For the first time ever in the Russian oil-and-gas industry the onshore section has seen the construction of tunnels in mountainous terrain |
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Italian ENI was the Gazprom’s main partner during the Blue Stream construction |
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Saipem-7000 pipe laying ship
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Significance
The Blue Stream gas pipeline is designed to transit Russian natural gas to Turkey across the Black Sea bypassing third countries. The pipeline will supplement the existing gas transmission corridor from Russia to Turkey crossing the territory of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria.
The Blue Stream has substantially increased the reliability of gas supply to Turkey thus developing the country’s gas market and gas infrastructure.
Technical Features of a Unique Pipeline
The Blue Stream pipeline is a unique gas transmission facility which has no analogues in the world. Having constructed the pipeline, Gazprom turned a new page in the history of state-of-the-art gas transmission technologies.
The total length of the Blue Stream gas pipeline accounts for 1,213 km.
Taking into account that the Russian onshore pipeline section over 60 km long crosses mountains, while the depth of the offshore pipeline section reaches 2,150 m running through the aggressive hydrosulfuric environment, special technical solutions were applied during the Blue Stream construction in order to enhance its reliability. The solutions include high quality corrosion-resistant steel pipes with external and internal polymer coating; pipeline stress testing; intellectual cut-ins at the mountainous and offshore sections, etc.
For the first time ever in the Russian oil-and-gas industry, the onshore section of the Blue Stream has seen the construction of tunnels in mountainous terrain under the Kobyla and Bezymyanny Ridges. The total tunnel length is equal to 3,260 m.
Environmental protection activities were carried out in parallel with the gas pipeline construction including land reclamation along the whole pipeline construction route, preservation of more than 4 hectares of relic woods crossing the Kobyla and Bezymyanny Ridges with the tunnel method.
Cooperation
The Italian ENI, which has a great experience in offshore gas pipeline construction and owns the world's largest pipe-laying fleet, was the Gazprom’s main partner during the Blue Stream construction.
History
On December 15, 1997, Russia and Turkey signed an Intergovernmental Agreement. Within the Agreement Gazprom and the Turkish Botas signed a 25-year contract for the supply of 365 bcm of gas to Turkey via the Blue Stream.
In February 1999, Gazprom and the Italian ENI signed a Memorandum of Understanding providing for joint participation in the Blue Stream project implementation.
On November 16, 1999, Gazprom and ENI registered a special-purpose Russian-Italian entity, Blue Stream Pipeline B.V., on a parity basis in the Netherlands. At present, this company acts as the owner of the offshore pipeline section and the Beregovaya compressor station. Gazprom is the owner and operator of the onshore pipeline section.
From September 2001 through June 2002, construction of the offshore section was underway.
In November 2005, the Samsun-based Durusu gas metering station (Turkey) celebrated the accomplishment of the Blue Stream project implementation.
In November 2005, the first stage of the Beregovaya compressor station was commissioned in Gelendzhik District of Krasnodar Krai.
Current Status
In 2006 and 2007, the Blue Stream supplied 7.5 bcm and 9.5 bcm of gas respectively.
The design capacity of the Blue Stream gas pipeline totals 16 bcmpa.
It should be noted that in certain periods at the request of the Turkish party the Blue Stream gas pipeline daily supplies the amount of gas equal to its design capacity. This happens in case Iran defaults on its obligations. Gazprom compensates gas delivery shortfalls giving a helping hand to the Turkish colleagues.
Gazprom is also capable of covering peak energy demand in Turkey connected with regular low temperature periods there.
Blue Stream-2
In addition to its prioritized purpose – gas deliveries to Turkey – the Blue Stream represents a ready-to-use gas transmission corridor for the implementation of new projects. The Blue Stream-2 being under consideration could be one of them.
The Blue Stream-2 can enable gas deliveries to the Middle East, Israel and other countries.
Additional Information on the Project
News Releases
November 21, 2007
Gazprom takes into operation Kamensk-Shakhtinskaya compressor station
November 14, 2006
Gazprom and ENI ink agreement on strategic partnership
October 27, 2006
Board of directors discusses gas export opportunities via Turkey
November 17, 2005
Blue Stream project officially inaugurated
November 3, 2005
Beregovaya compressor station inaugurated
July 28, 2005
Kotelnikovskaya and Olkhovskaya compressor stations commissioned
December 6, 2004
Gazprom and Botas ink memorandum on cooperation deepening in gas sector
October 22, 2004
Gazprom receives national ecology award
December 26, 2003
The Stavropolskaya compressor station commemorative putting into operation
December 16, 2003
One bcm of natural gas delivered trough the Blue Stream gas pipeline
November 20, 2003
Gazprom and Botas have completed negotiations on Russian gas supply to Turkey
July 31, 2003
On results of Gazprom delegation’s visit to Turkey
July 2, 2003
Yuri Komarov: “Mutually acceptable solution on the Blue Stream will be found”
June 24, 2003
Inauguration of compressor station held
December 30, 2002
Blue Stream gas pipeline commissioned
October 21, 2002
Marine and onshore sections of Blue Stream gas pipeline connected
June 5, 2002
Deep-water part of Blue Stream gas pipeline marine section constructed