Bashneft to put 11 bln rubles into boosting pipeline reliability in 2013-2017
UFA. Dec 19 (Interfax) - OJSC Bashneft will put 11.1 billion rubles into a program for increasing pipeline reliability in 2013-2017, the company press service said.
"The program involves upgrading over 1,258 kilometers of pipelines (including the replacement of pipes) and carrying out major repairs to almost 250 kilometers of pipelines within 5 years. The program also includes installing cathodic protection systems, scraper traps, corrosion monitoring facilities, chemical feeders, as well as taking measures for ensuring the use of modern chemicals, corrosion inhibiting protection, in-line inspection, inspection of underwater pipelines, etc. Overall, in 2013-2017, Bashneft plans to allocate 11.1 billion rubles for the implementation of the program for improving the reliability of pipelines," the company said.
"The program is aimed first and foremost at preventing environmental damage that may result from pipeline ruptures caused mainly by corrosion, which is the cause of about 85% of pipeline failures at the fields," Bashneft's First Vice President for Upstream and Geology Mikhail Stavskiy is quoted as saying. "Implementation of the program will enable Bashneft to further reduce the accident rate; currently, Bashneft has one of the lowest accident rates in the industry," he said.
Plans call for the reconstruction (with pipe replacement) of more than 1,258 km of pipeline and the capital overhaul of almost 250 km of pipeline.
Bashneft spent more than one billion rubles on measures to improve pipeline reliability this year. The money was put in part toward the reconstruction of 58.1 km and the capital overhaul of 73.2 km of pipeline.
