Pipeline system "Eastern Siberia

April 2006 marked the launch of “Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean” (ESPO) major oil pipeline. This oil pipeline system will supply oil to the Russian Far East and Asian-Pacific Region. EPSO PS shall also have process connection to the already existing Transneft LLC pipelines, which will create a unified pipeline network and ensure timely hydrocarbon distribution both to the east and to the west directions.

The first step of the infrastructure project (or ‘ESPO-1 PS’) was the construction of a pipeline from Tayshet to Skovorodino passing through Amur and Irkutsk Oblasts as well as Yakutiya. The main pipeline is almost 2700 km long and its capacity is 30 MTPA. Simultaneously, oil loading port Kozmino was commissioned with the capacity of 15 MTPA and seven pump stations (PS).

During the construction, the workers faced various difficulties and applied complex technical solutions. For example, lack of any infrastructure at some areas required the use of track-all vehicles and helicopters to assess the pipeline location. Poor weather conditions (low temperatures, seismic activity) and route terrain (bogs, boreal forest, water obstacles) complicated the maintenance process as well. In addition to the main facilities the project included accompanying improvements: new roads, waste treatment facilities, power lines, all the facilities were equipped with communication and automation equipment as necessary.