Operation of the Nord Stream Pipeline System
As an operator, Nord Stream AG offers gas transportation capacities of up to 55 billion cubic metres annually via its twin, 1,224-kilometre pipeline system, which runs from Vyborg, Russia to Lubmin, Germany.
A contractual framework is in place to ensure the transport of gas from the entry point of the pipelines in Russia to the exit point in Germany. There, the gas will be received by the connecting pipelines OPAL (Baltic Sea Pipeline Link) and NEL (North European Gas Pipeline) for further transport into the European grid.
The operation of the Nord Stream pipelines was permitted by all relevant national authorities in the countries whose waters Nord Stream crosses. Additionally, the complete pipeline design and construction was certified by the independent Norwegian certification company Det Norske Veritas (DNV), ensuring that the highest international standards for constructing and operating offshore pipelines are met.
Four Pipeline System Facilities at Work
Nord Stream also operates four pipeline facilities: landfalls in Russia and Germany where the offshore pipeline ties in to the onshore connecting pipelines; and a Control Centre located in Zug, Switzerland – from where the pipelines are monitored and operated. Additionally, there is a Back-Up Control Centre.
Landfall facilities cover the section of pipeline between the waterline and the connecting pipelines to the Gazprom Tranzgaz St. Petersburg operated Compressor Station Portovaya in Russia, and the OPAL and NEL receiving terminal in Germany. All components needed for the operation of the pipeline are located at the landfalls.
Continuous Monitoring for Safe and Efficient Operation
The operation of the Nord Stream Pipeline system is remotely monitored and controlled from the Control Centre, located at the Nord Stream Head Office in Zug. The operators in the Control Centre oversee and coordinate commercial operations of the pipeline system. This means they are in constant contact with the supplier of the gas as well as the receivers to assess the flow of gas on a daily basis. Additionally, the operators monitor the physical flow of the gas through the pipelines to determine that everything is operating as planned. The facility is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For added safety during operations, the remote control systems are duplicated at a second location with a fully independent communication system. This Back-Up Control Centre is equipped with the same monitoring and control systems, which are continuously updated in real-time and in parallel with the sister facility.
