Offshore: Pipe fabrication under way for South Stream gas line in Black Sea
Vyksa Steel Works has produced the first section of pipe for the South Stream offshore pipeline.
Each section will be 12 m (39.3 ft) long, 813 mm (32 in.) in diameter and with a wall thickness of 39 mm (1.5 in.). The pipes will be manufactured from SAWL 450 steel to withstand operating pressure of 28.45 MPa (4,126 psi).
Another Russian yard, Severstal (Izhora Pipe Mill), and Germany’s Europipe are also manufacturing pipe for the first South Stream line.
First consignments will be delivered to ports in Bulgaria early this summer. Saipem is due to start offshore construction in the fall.