WORLD NEWS Druzhba oil pipeline repaired after leak The Polish operator of an oil pipeline running to Germany confirms that it has fixed the damage that caused a leak in mid October, and that the flow of crude oil from Russia has been fully restored. The state-run operator, PERN, said that both lines of the Druzhba pipeline were operating normally, transporting oil. The Druzhba oil pipeline linking Russia and Germany was partly shut after a leak was discovered in Poland, Pern said on 12 October. “The cause of the incident is not known for the moment. Pumping in the affected line was immediately stopped. Line 2 of the pipeline is functioning normally,” the operator said at the time. The German government said oil deliveries were continuing to two key refineries, despite the leak. “Germany’s security of supply is currently guaranteed … Deliveries are uninterrupted,” the economy ministry said in a statement. The leak on an underground segment of the Druzhba
pipeline was detected late on 11 October near the village of Zurawice, about 110 miles to the west of Warsaw. A Pern spokesperson, Katarzyna Krasinska, told AFP that firefighters were pumping out the spilled oil, “which could take several hours”. The pipeline mainly supplies two refineries in Schwedt and Leuna in Germany. The Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline network was put into service in the 1960s and covers 3400 miles, pumping oil from the Urals to Europe through two main branches via Belarus and Ukraine. Germany said it was receiving less oil but still had adequate supplies. Warsaw said it was probably caused by an accident rather than sabotage. Poland’s top official for energy infrastructure said there are no grounds to believe the leak was an act of sabotage. “Here we can talk about accidental damage,” Mateusz Berger said.
Extent of damage to Nord Stream pipelines revealed Swedish newspaper Expressen has published photographs and film footage taken by an underwater drone at the site near the island of Bornholm, where the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany ruptured on 26 September. Footage appears to show long tears in the seabed near the concrete-reinforced steel pipe. The pipe is not merely cracked but torn apart, in an act of suspected sabotage. At least 50 m of the gas pipeline appears to be missing, Expressen said. Three separate investigations are currently trying to assess the full extent of the damage to the two twin pipelines, Nord
Stream 1 and 2, and collect evidence as to who was behind the sabotage. Europe is investigating what caused three pipelines in the Nord Stream network to burst in an act of suspected sabotage near Swedish and Danish waters. Sweden’s prosecution authority said in a press release that it had designated the area a crime scene. A spokesman for the Swedish coast guard confirmed in an email that there was now an exclusion zone of five nautical miles around the leaks.
Event round-up: IPLOCA’s 54th annual convention Gonzalo Montenegro, IPLOCA President 2021 - 2022, welcomed just over 400 IPLOCA members to the Annual Convention in Prague from 19 - 23 September, with the theme: ‘Pipelines Powering a Sustainable Future.’ This year’s speakers addressed how to anticipate and overcome the challenges presented by the increase in alternative energy sources; the restrictions and guidelines for reducing carbon footprint; and the related repercussions faced by the pipeline industry. A new technology revolutionising underground construction was presented, and one of the IPLOCA members entered the Guinness Book of Records. Poster sessions were given by CRC Evans, Cyntech Group, Gulf Energy Information, LCS Cable Cranes GmbH, Monti-Werkzeuge GmbH, Pipeline Induction Heat, and Winn & Coales International Ltd. Ten minute business-to-business meetings were offered by member companies Bechtel Pipelines, Bonatti S.p.A., Fluor, Sicim S.p.A., TC Energy and Techfem S.p.A., and were fully booked. IPLOCA is proud to announce that for the 7th year running, 20 scholarships of US$4500 each were awarded to children or grandchildren of employees of IPLOCA members. During the OGMs the awards for 2020, 2021, and 2022 were given for Health & Safety (sponsored by TC Energy); the
Environment (sponsored by Shell); Corporate Social Responsibility (sponsored by Total); New Technologies (sponsored by BP); and for Excellence in Project Execution (sponsored by IPLOCA). This year IPLOCA welcomed 14 new members. Montenegro presented his ‘Year in Review’ and showed how the Association has slowly moved back to normality after the pandemic by holding more and more face-to-face meetings. During his presidential term, four face-to-face board meetings, two regional meetings, two Novel Construction sessions and an HSE & CSR workshop on sustainability were held. Membership figures have also slightly increased compared to last year. Montenegro thanked the Board for their hard work this past year before passing the gavel to Kelly Osborn, the incoming President for the 2022 - 2023 term. Roberto Castelli was elected 1st Vice President, Leon Richards 2nd Vice President, and Adam Wynne Hughes as Treasurer. The results of the 2022 - 2023 Board of Directors’ nominations were ratified during the AGM. The IPLOCA team looks forward to seeing all its members next year in Vancouver, Canada from 11 - 15 September 2023.
NOVEMBER 2022 / World Pipelines
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