The Langeled pipeline (originally known as Britpipe) is an underwater gas pipeline transporting Norwegian natural gas to the United Kingdom. Before the completion of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, it was the longest subsea pipeline in the world.[1][2]
| Langeled pipeline | |
|---|---|
 Easington terminal of the Langeled pipeline | |
 Location of Langeled pipeline | |
| Location | |
| Country | Norway, United Kingdom |
| General direction | east-south-west |
| From | Nyhamna, Norway |
| Passes through | Sleipner Riser platform |
| To | Easington, United Kingdom |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | Petoro, Statoil, Norske Shell, DONG Energy, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Gassco |
| Operator | Gassco |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 1,166 km (725 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 25.5 billion cubic meters per year |
| Diameter | 42 to 44 in (1,067 to 1,118 mm) |
History
editThe project was launched under the original name Britpipe. In October 2003, Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil and Statoil signed agreements to supply natural gas through the Britpipe.[3] The pipeline's construction began in 2004.[4] The largest part of the pipeline was installed by Acergy Piper, a pipe-laying ship of Acergy.[5] Other pipe-laying ships used were Solitaire of Allseas, and Saipem 7000 of Saipem.[6]
The pipeline was opened in two stages. The southern section (Sleipner Riser platform to Easington) began piping gas on 1 October 2006, the northern section (Nyhamna to Sleipner Riser) opened in October 2007. The official opening of the project was held in London on 16 October 2006 by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Norwegian counterpart, Jens Stoltenberg.[7]
Route
edit
The pipeline runs 1,166 kilometres (725 mi) through the North Sea from the Nyhamna terminal in Norway via the Sleipner Riser platform in the North Sea to Easington Gas Terminal in England.[5][8] The pipeline is designated to bring natural gas from the Ormen Lange gas process terminal to the UK, but through the connector at Sleipner Riser it provides also an opportunity to send gas through Gassco's existing network to continental Europe.
Technical description
editThe annual capacity of the Langeled pipeline is 25.5 billion cubic metres (900 billion cubic feet). That equates to some 20% of Britain's peak gas demand.[4] With the energy content of natural gas at 39 MJ (megajoules) per normal cubic meter, the capacity energy flux is 31.5 GW (gigawatts).
The Langeled pipeline supplements the Vesterled system with annual capacity about 12 bcm, which runs from Heimdal Riser platform in the North Sea to St. Fergus in Scotland.
The project cost £1.7 billion.[4]
Nyhamna-Sleipner Riser section
editThe Nyhamna-Sleipner Riser leg has a diameter of 1,067 millimetres (42.0 in) and can operate with a pressure of 250 bar.[9]
Hub at Sleipner Riser
editAt Sleipner Riser the Langeled has a connection to the existing Gassled transport system.
Sleipner Riser-Easington section
editThe Sleipner Riser-Easington leg has a diameter of 1,118 millimetres (44.0 in), which makes it the largest submarine pipeline in the North Sea.[9] Its pressure is 155 bar.
Ownership and operation
editThe owner of the Langeled pipeline is Gassled. The operator for Langeled is Gassco and technical service provider is Equinor. Equinor also runs the gas export project.[9] The principal funding for the project was provided by the syndicated loan structured by ABN AMRO and mainly subscribed by several banks, among them Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Defoe Fournier & Cie.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Moskwa, Wojciech (13 September 2007). "Norway's Ormen Lange gas starts flowing to Britain". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ "Nord Stream Passes Ships and Bombs". The Moscow Times. Bloomberg. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "UK signs Norway gas deal". BBC News. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ a b c "Gas pipeline to begin operations". BBC. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ a b "Acergy Completes Langeled Ahead of Schedule". Downstream Today. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ "Langeled Pipeline to be Completed Below Budget". Downstream Today. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ Matthew Tempest; Hilary Osborne (16 October 2006). "Blair opens new gas pipeline". Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ Rita Tubb (3 May 2007). "Rust-proofing the World's Longest Subsea Pipeline". Downstream Today. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ a b c "Statoil to Provide Technical Services to Langeled Pipeline System". Downstream Today. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
External links
edit