Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee visited the Portovaya compressor station – the key operational element of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. He heard the report on completion of testing at the first string of the gas pipeline.
Performed in compliance with the industrial standards for gas pipeline security and reliability, the testing stipulated that two basic conditions were met: at least one billion cubic meters of gas supplied during a month and full load maintained during a period of three days.
Both conditions were met: between May 15 and June 14, 2012 Nord Stream’s first string conveyed more than 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas, at the same time the first string was fully loaded (75 million cubic meters of gas per day, corresponding to the annual design capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters) between May 22 and 24.
“Nord Stream has been successfully tested. The testing has proven that the new route of Russian gas supplies to Europe is highly reliable. Similar testing of Nord Stream’s second string is scheduled for the next summer.
By creating new routes we care about our European consumers, it is also a guarantee that their gas demand will be met and the EU countries’ energy security will be reinforced in a sustained manner,” said Alexey Miller.
Background
Nord Stream is a fundamentally new route for Russian gas export to Europe. Running across the Baltic Sea waters from the Portovaya Bay (near Vyborg) to the German coast (near Greifswald) the gas pipeline will stretch over 1,200 kilometers.
The Nord Stream project is being implemented by the joint venture Nord Stream AG. The stakes in Nord Stream AG are currently distributed as follows: Gazprom holds 51 per cent, Wintershall Holding and E.ON Ruhrgas – 15.5 per cent each, Gasunie and GDF Suez – 9 per cent each.
Commercial gas supplies via Nord Stream’s first string started on November 8, 2011.
The Nord Stream gas pipeline’s second string laying ended ahead of schedule on April 18. Upon completion of pre-commissioning activities and filling up with process gas, the string will be ready to supply natural gas to Europe by late 2012.
The annual gas throughput of Nord Stream will be 55 billion cubic meters after its two strings reach the design capacity.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , June 20, 2012; Image: Nord-Stream