OREANDA-NEWS. June 11, 2010. The Oil and Gas Production Division (NGDU) Sorochinskneft of OJSC Orenburgneft (subsidiary of TNK-BP) is going to use a new method for protection of pipelines, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

Maksim Razin, Head of the Pipeline Integrity Group of Sorochinskneft, said that new protection methods are improved, field tests conducted, and new technologies integrated every year for solution of current problems and implementation of current tasks.

“Rehabilitation is one of the methods of pipeline protection widely used by international oil producing companies,” said Mr. Razin. “Rehabilitation consists in pulling polyethylene liner through pipelines and reliably protects pipelines for about 50 years. Pipeline rehabilitation implies pulling polyethylene liner through prepared pipelines under the ground for up to 500 m in length without taking them out to the ground surface, which protects the topsoil and vegetation. Apart from these advantages, this method is cost efficient and 30% less expensive than construction of new pipelines. Pipeline rehabilitation provides longer coverage of pipelines than other pipeline protection methods for the same amount of financing.”

After analysis of the technology and its economic effect, this method will be integrated at Sorochinskneft in Q4 2010.