Photo: Denisova Ematerina/GeoPhoto.ru
Subsea Arctic Pipeline Put into Operation in Yamal
Gazprom Neft, a major Russian-based oil and gas producer, has commissioned a subsea pipeline to connect its Novoport field on the Yamal Peninsula to the country’s gas trunk network operated by its parent company Gazprom. The pipeline will be ultimately capable of moving up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas per annum. The estimated project cost amounts to 150 billion rubles (USD 2 billion).
The pipeline was designed so as to both meet the highest environmental standards and be able to withstand northern climate-related challenges. The 58.4-kilometer-long underwater segment of the pipeline traversing the Gulf of Ob was laid at an average depth of 5 meters below the seabed to protect local wildlife from noise, vibration and electromagnetic impact. The pipeline is well insulated to avoid causing permafrost thaw. The project was tailored to ensure that the vital interests of indigenous communities are respected; in addition, the village of Novy Port will be linked up to the gas supply network.
Putting the pipeline into operation is an important step in terms of implementation of the Yamal Gas project implemented by the state-controlled corporation with a view to unlocking gas reserves on the Yamal Peninsula. Bringing the pipeline infrastructure online will open access to a hydrocarbon cluster capable of producing some 10 million metric tons of oil and 20 billion cubic meters of gas per annum, the corporation says.
As part of the mentioned project, a gas processing plant will be built in Yamal. According to Gazprom Neft, it will enable the company to use up to 95% of Novoport’s bypass gas, cutting its greenhouse gas emissions from upstream operations.
Arctic Today is a column by PORA CEO Alexander Stotskiy analyzing major international, national and regional events and trends in the Arctic.
The pipeline was designed so as to both meet the highest environmental standards and be able to withstand northern climate-related challenges. The 58.4-kilometer-long underwater segment of the pipeline traversing the Gulf of Ob was laid at an average depth of 5 meters below the seabed to protect local wildlife from noise, vibration and electromagnetic impact. The pipeline is well insulated to avoid causing permafrost thaw. The project was tailored to ensure that the vital interests of indigenous communities are respected; in addition, the village of Novy Port will be linked up to the gas supply network.
Putting the pipeline into operation is an important step in terms of implementation of the Yamal Gas project implemented by the state-controlled corporation with a view to unlocking gas reserves on the Yamal Peninsula. Bringing the pipeline infrastructure online will open access to a hydrocarbon cluster capable of producing some 10 million metric tons of oil and 20 billion cubic meters of gas per annum, the corporation says.
As part of the mentioned project, a gas processing plant will be built in Yamal. According to Gazprom Neft, it will enable the company to use up to 95% of Novoport’s bypass gas, cutting its greenhouse gas emissions from upstream operations.
Arctic Today is a column by PORA CEO Alexander Stotskiy analyzing major international, national and regional events and trends in the Arctic.
10 December 2021
