Offshore staff

PORTOVAYA BAY, Russia – Allseas’ Solitaire has completed installation of Line 2 of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in Russian waters. The vessel has since resumed pipelay operations in the Finnish sector.

To date, over 230 km (143 mi) of Line 2 have been laid in the Baltic Sea, of which 124 km (77 mi) are offshore Russia. Saipem’s Castoro Sei is simultaneously laying sections of the line in the Gulf of Finland as well.

Construction of landfall facilities for both pipelines has also been completed on the shore at Portovaya Bay near Vyborg.

The first Nord Stream pipeline has been completed and should enter service during 4Q 2011.

Onshore facilities 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the shoreline include pig traps, isolation, and emergency shutdown valves. This equipment has been installed – assembly is under way of telemetry and automation systems.

Later in the summer, gas-in equipment will be added for the commissioning stage.

During the operational phase gas pressure at the start of the pipelines will be up to 220 bar (3,191 psi), requiring the use of steel pipes with a maximum wall thickness of 41 mm (1.6-in.).

06/22/2011