OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2008. The Headquarters of Gazprom hosted an extended joint meeting of the Company’s Science & Technology Council Bureau (STCB), STCB’s Gas Transmission and Storage section and the Company’s standing New Pipe Products Acceptance Commission.

The meeting was chaired by Vlada Rusakova, Member of Gazprom's Management Committee, Head of the Strategic Development Department, First Deputy Head of the Company’s STCB. Attendance comprised specialists from the Company’s core business units, subsidiaries, pipe product manufacturing companies, scientific research and design & engineering companies.

The participants noted that the construction of the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system was one of the top priority gas transmission projects for Gazprom. This system will include advanced gas pipelines with a large throughput capacity achieved via the increase of the operating pressure to 11.8 MPa and application of 1420mm pipes with K65 material quality.

Given the lack of experience in the construction and operation of the above gas pipelines in the world and national practice, until recently there have been no technical requirements for pipes with such specifications.

Gazprom developed therefore the relevant technical standards, prepared a testing ground within the shortest possible time and performed the full-scale testing of a pilot batch of pipes turned out by a number of Russian and foreign plants.

The participants examined information on the work done and pointed to the uniqueness of new scientific findings and practical experience for ensuring the reliability of promising gas transmission projects.

The participants confirmed the applicability of the methodology of pilot pipe batch acceptance tests used in relation to the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system for obtaining reliable results. The test scope and results were considered sufficient for assessing the conformity of pipe specifications with the applicable requirements.