MEDGAZ begins construction of the deepwater pipeline
- The Saipem 7000, the platform used to build the deepest part of the pipeline route, arrived in the port of Almeria.
- MEDGAZ, which constitutes the first direct connection between Algeria and the European market, is also the first gas pipeline built in the Mediterranean at more than 2 meters deep.
The port of Almeria today welcomed the Saipem 7000, the platform used for laying the gas pipeline in the deepest areas of its route (up to 2 meters). The platform started from Stavanger (Norway) where the welding tower was installed, which will install 160 of the 120 kilometers of the Algeria-Europe pipeline route via Spain.
It is a ship belonging to the company Saipem sPa, world leader in the construction of marine infrastructures. It has been used for mounting infrastructure worldwide, including the pipeline built between Russia and Turkey which crossed the Black Sea (Blue Stream) and the Ormen Lange project in Norway.
The Saipem 7000 is 197,95 meters long and its main deck reaches a height of 43,5 meters.
It will remain wet in the port of Almeria from where it will carry out a number of preparatory works until mid-August, when the laying of the pipeline in deep waters (from 550 meters deep) should begin. will start on the Spanish side and end on the Algerian side.
The installation method used is called the J-lay method because of the shape taken by the piping during assembly. The pipes, previously welded in 50-meter sections, are assembled and installed in a vertical position and adopt a J shape during their descent to the seabed.
In total, the deepwater construction process will take approximately 40 days. According to forecasts, the Saipem 7000 will lay 3 kilometers of piping per day. Nearly 450 people will work on board the platform until the end of construction.
MEDGAZ completed the first part of the installation at the end of June. Another ship, the Castoro Sei, installed the section corresponding to the course in shallow waters (up to 550 meters). Once the installation in deep waters is complete, the Castro Sei will continue its installation in Algerian waters.
The arrival of the Saipem 7000 in Almeria represents an important step in the construction of the MEDGAZ. This gas pipeline, which for the first time will link Algerian natural gas deposits to the European market, is also the first gas pipeline to be laid in the Mediterranean at more than 2 meters deep.
Once this section is completed, 80% of the Algeria-Europe gas pipeline via Spain will have been laid. The commissioning of the latter is planned for 2009.
Source: http://www.medgaz.com/medgaz/pages/nota ... _16-fr.htm
They even have videos: http://www.medgaz.com/medgaz/pages/arch ... omento3-fr
Downloads:
a) document (very simple) on the technique of laying an underwater gas pipeline
b) Presentation of the project: technology and economic aspects: https://www.econologie.com/gaz-naturel-g ... -3909.html
According to doc b), the cost price of Algerian gas will be more than 2 times cheaper when it arrives in Europe than Russian gas ...
Who do you think will get the most out of you? It starts with G and ends with DF ...