OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2012. On May 25 CPC trunk crude pipeline resumed its operation after a 72-hour shutdown. For three days work was carried out at the Company’s facilities to tie-in new equipment, replace block valves and on the pipeline maintenance. The shutdown activities were planned jointly by the Expansion Project specialists and Operations staff so that the shutdown time could be used with maximum efficiency.

For the purpose of increasing the crude pipeline throughput capacity as part of the Expansion Project implementation, the mainline pump manifold and an additional booster pump were connected at Kropotkin PS. Booster pumps, additional mainline filters, surge protection system were connected at Komsomolskaya PS.

As part of the routine operation of the pipeline large-diameter ball valves were replaced at Atyrau PS, Kropotkin PS and Komsomolskaya PS. Specialists replaced 12 welded ball valves with the flange ones on the mainline pumps and mud filters. The latter’s advantage consists in their quick replacement in the event of any malfunction without welding and crude pipeline shutdown.

In doing the ties-in continually tested, reliable technique and equipment were used. For the purposes of minimizing the risk additional efforts were used, specifically, fire crews were engaged, managers responsible for the work were involved to the maximum extent, monitoring the personnel compliance with the safety rules on a 24-hour basis.

The scale and complexity of the now completed event were due to a high operating factor maintained by CPC while needing to do both Expansion tie-ins and scheduled maintenance at the same time. Everybody proved to be ready for the shutdown. Mobilization of all parties involved, key resources and equipment allowed to complete the complex technical task as scheduled, mitigating any risks of failure while supporting on-going operational activities. Although the shutdown will result in total oil movement volumes being somewhat reduced, its successful completion has created the pre-conditions for expediting Phase 1 of CPC Expansion and increasing the system capacity.

The CPC pipeline system is one of the largest investment projects with foreign capital in the CIS.  The length of the pipeline connecting oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal in Novorossiysk is 1,511 km.

The CPC Project was originally developed with a view to a potential expansion of its capacity by 2 ? times up to 67 MTA (76 MTA with DRA).

The Expansion Project includes rehabilitation of 5 existing and construction of 10 additional pump stations (2 in the Republic of Kazakhstan and 8 in the Russian Federation), six crude oil storage tanks near Novorossiysk and a SPM at the CPC Marine Terminal, and also the replacement of a 88 km pipeline section in Kazakhstan with a larger diameter pipe. The total amount of the Project investments will be USD  5.4 billion.

CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation (represented by Transneft – 24% and CPC Company – 7 %) – 31%; Republic of Kazakhstan  (represented by Kazmunaygaz  – 19% and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%) – 20.75%; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company - 15%, LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company – 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited – 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.