OREANDA-NEWS. April 2, 2010. Trubodetal, part of United Metallurgical Company (OMK), has produced its first batch of split T-branches at the request of Transneft.

Four split T-branches 1,220x159 and two T-branches 1,067x159?were shipped by the welding division of Thermal Press and Welding Workshop No. 1 in mid-March 2010.

Before that time, domestic manufacturers had never produced split T-branches in this country. These products were purchased abroad from T. D. Williamson Inc.

This type of T-branch is multifunctional. It is used to repair pipeline sections without stopping transportation of products (oil, oil products, etc.), eliminate unauthorized installation of tie-in lines, and tap existing pipeline strings (without lengthy shutdowns) to supply oil products to some other facilities.

"In Russia, we did not even have any regulatory technical documents for the manufacture of this type of product," said Trubodetal Production Director Igor Postel. "To create one, we closely cooperate with the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. When we complete this work, Trubodetal will be the only supplier of split T-branches in this country."