Technical aspects and safety analysis

Nord Stream AG has started an international tender process to procure 48 inch pipes for the first pipeline. The tender is arranged in line with the international standards and has clearly defined specifications. The pipemils participating in the tender include international suppliers. The tender will be finalised this year.

A new pipe supply tender will be held for the second pipeline, by which the number of technically qualified pipe mills is expected to have increased.

The pipes for the pipeline will be manufactured from high-tensile steel in accordance with DNV Offshore Standard OS-F 101. The metal tubes will be 27 to 41 mm thick. To give them extra weight and ensure their stability on the seabed, the steel pipes will be coated with concrete, with a thickness between 60 mm and 110 mm. The pipeline consists of 12 metres long joint links. To ensure that the pipeline can withstand the high internal pressure of over 200 bar, independent checks and quality control will be carried out both by the pipe mills, by independent pipeline experts as well as by our experts.

This was both a technical and an economic decision. For the chosen option of pipelines of 1,220 mm (48 inches) in diameter, midway compression is not needed, because this bigger size of pipelines allows for transportation of the same amount of gas without additional compression. This will save the expense of installation and maintenance and optimise our cost structure.

Offshore pipelines are the safest means of transport within the oil and gas industry. Very occasionally, incidents are caused by fire/explosion, human error, construction and maintenance faults, or operational problems. Recent studies show there have been no documented incidents causing shutdowns or repairs of track lines built since the 1980s.

Nord Stream has developed a comprehensive system to analyse the potential risks of the pipeline’s construction and operation.

Those involved with the project have comprehensive experience in construction and operation of on- and offshore pipelines, as well as with its proven technology. We will use metal tubes, 27– 41 mm thick, plus an outside coating of up to 150 mm, which is virtually impenetrable.

The construction of the gas pipeline is a European, commercial project.

We have no mission other than the construction of a secure and environmentally safe infrastructure for transporting natural gas to Europe.

We would never endanger our business – to deliver gas – by using our infrastructure in a way that put at risk our permission to deliver gas.

Involvement of military forces of any kind is not necessary.

We have already involved private institutes to carry out the environmental surveys. Construction of the pipeline will also be subcontracted to private companies.