Such flexible pipeline technology has so far been being used in both oil and gas production and processing.
As Darko Bicak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of September, 2018, Plinacro has now kicked off its second phase of the revitalisation of the 6.1 km long Kozarac-Stružec gas pipeline located in Moslavina, in continental Croatia.
As has been reported by the public company, after the initial works were completed over the past two weeks, on Monday, in fourteen locations through which the pipeline runs began with the installation of flexible pipes into the existing steel pipeline, which was constructed back in 1970.
Plinacro has now become the first gas transmission system operator (OTS) in Europe to use flexible tubes, primarily because of the smaller length and diameter of the gas pipeline. This flexible tubing is used to transport the gas all the way to the end user, in this case, that end user is INA. With regard to the construction of a new gas pipeline, the advantages of using flexible pipes, or more specifically their placement into an existing gas pipeline, are primarily a shortened time of project realisation and significantly lower maintenance costs.
In this respect, it is important to point out that such technology is used in the offshore industry in almost 70 percent of cases in other parts of the world, while when it comes to the onshore industry, it is primarily used in the technological processing of oil and gas production. Given the fact that, at least for the time being, flexible tubing of such diameters currently isn’t being produced, the application of the above technology is not yet possible on Plinacro’s main gas pipelines. The completion of the undertaken works is scheduled for as soon as October the 1st this year.
This revitalisation of the gas pipeline was considered to be a necessary move by all, primarily because of the gas pipeline’s age, the way in which it was originally constructed, and the fact that it was increasingly difficult to secure safe and reliable natural gas transport. Plinacro and the Romanian SC Euro Gas Systems signed a contract at the very beginning of this month on the delivery of the main equipment for the construction of compressor stations at Velika Ludina in Moslavina, the value of which stands at about 8.2 million euro.
Plinacro explained that the aforementioned contract concerns the delivery, installation, commissioning, and the maintenance of the main equipment (three compressor units) for the first compressor station (KS1) on the Croatian gas transport system. The final agreement with the Romanians is said to be the result of an international public tender in which SC Euro Gas Systems was the most successful bidder.
Plinacro’s construction works started back in early August, and by signing the contract, the final phase was initiated in the realisation of the project.
Namely, building KS1 will increase the security of supply of all users of the gas pipeline transport system, increase the flexibility of managing the existing transport capacities, and increase the overall capacity according to the needs of the market.
In addition, as they say from Plinacro, the establishment of a permanent two-way capacity will be ensured on the existing interconnection between Croatia and Hungary, in the direction of Donji Miholjac (Croatia), and Dravaszerdahely (Hungary), which will also enable gas from the future LNG terminal on Krk towards Hungary and to third countries.
Click here for the original article by Darko Bicak for Poslovni Dnevnik
