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Report
Release
Alexey Farafontov, Director General, Spetsgazavtotrans
Spetsgazavtotrans was one of the first companies to enter Kamchatka. Like 20 years ago in Yamal, we had to deliver machinery and equipment by sea and to unload them directly onto the shore. The infrastructure for field development on the west of the Peninsula and for laying the gas pipeline to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky had to be constructed from the ground up.
Spetsgazavtotrans was tasked to build the 530-millimeter gas trunkline section from comprehensive gas treatment unit (CGTU) No.2 of the Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye gas and condensate field to the automated gas distribution station (AGDS) of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – kilometer posts from KP80 to KP143. This is one of the most challenging sections in terms of environmental legislation. It runs across the Kol River wildlife area with very stringent environmental requirements. There are numerous spawning rivers (first-class and premium-class) within the area. Hence, wastewater discharge, even in case purified, is prohibited there – wastewaters should be removed. Throughout the spawning period – from April 15 to November 15 – even tiny streams must not be waded. Meanwhile, there were no bridges or roads there.
We have managed to promptly create a transportation system, arrange cargoes and rotation shifts delivery to facilities, introduce an environmental monitoring and control system.
When constructing the line pipe we applied the STT and Innershield semi-automated welding technologies (using carbon dioxide-shielded and self-shielded wires). This considerably accelerated the completion of work and increased the quality of welded joints.
Spetsgazavtotrans completed the line pipe in summer 2009. Remaining were only cable-stayed above-water crossings via the Udova, Kokhta, Kol, Koklyanka, Kiumshechek and Pymta rivers. These were accomplished once the spawning period ended up.
In September 2009 Spetsgazavtotrans began the Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye and Kshukskoye fields pre-development operations. In July 2010 Phase I was commissioned with 3 well pads, a temporary construction camp site, a CGTU site and all intra-field roads –the total of some 1.8 million cubic meters of soil.
The bulk of operations within Phase I of the Kamchatka Krai gasification was completed by Spetsgazavtotrans in August 2010. The company gained unique experience which is fully applied for construction of other facilities as part of the Eastern Gas Program: the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system and the gas lateral to Vladivostok.
Viktor Timoshilov, Head of the East-Oriented Project Coordination Directorate, Gazprom
We may say that the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas pipeline construction project is unique. It has been implemented within a tight schedule prescribed – in fact, it took us three years to construct the gas pipeline.
Such a schedule imposed special requirements for the operations and control over them. The progress with design and construction work was constantly monitored by the Company’s top management.
It allowed prompt mobilization of a considerable amount of machinery, personnel and equipment in Kamchatka. The process of relocation was quite uneasy due to the remoteness of Kamchatka, complex supply chain, frequent storms near the west coast of the Peninsula. We had to improve the project solutions adopted at the early stage of the project execution (before Gazprom joined the project) in order to meet Kamchatka’s 9 to 10-point seismic activity and environmental requirements. Moreover, many standards and norms changed after the 1990s when the project execution started.
Gazprom has obtained experience of gas pipelines construction in highly-seismic regions, e.g. certain onshore sections of the Blue Stream, as well as in highlands – the Dzuarikau – Tskhinval gas pipeline for instance. However, 9 to 10-point seismic activity regions have been unprecedented until recently.
This stand-alone project is unique as it is not linked to the Unified Gas Supply System. In fact, together with the Kshukskoye and Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye fields it lays the basis for the regional gas supply system. This imposes additional requirements for the reliability of gas supply to consumers.
Kamchatka’s CHPP-2 has become the “pioneer” facility to be fed with gas from the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas trunkline commissioned. However, it’s just the beginning. CHPP-1 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is waiting for its turn. Subsequently, municipal boiler houses in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and residential centers located along the pipeline route, e.g. the city of Yelizarovo, will be converted to gas.
The above mentioned facilities will be included in the Kamchatka Krai Gasification Program. The draft Program has been developed and is being coordinated at present. Under this five-year Program gasification activities will be carried out in a continuous and scheduled way. It is the first time the detailed gasification program is designed for such a long term.
As you may know, the respective Kamchatka Krai gasification proposals are to be submitted to the Russian President within a month.
In the medium term gas will be supplied to consumers in Kamchatka from the Kshukskoye and Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye fields located on Kamchatka’s west coast. In parallel, geological exploration will be continued within the adjacent onshore areas and the West Kamchatka shelf. In case gas reserves are confirmed there, the areas will become an extra resource base for gasification of Kamchatka and for gas supply beyond the Peninsula.