Laying of second strand of Russia-Turkey pipeline completed

The Italian lay barge Saipem has completed laying the second strand of the marine section of the Russia-Turkey gas pipeline as part of the Blue Stream project. Laying of the second strand of the pipeline has been underway since February 2002 and the deep-water section was completed at the start of June.
The marine section of the Blue Stream pipeline consists of two pipeline strands 610 mm in diameter. Construction of the first strand was begun in September last year and completed on March 31, 2002.

In the nine months of construction of the marine section of the Blue Stream pipeline about 800 km of pipes were laid at a depth of up to 2,150 meters. The marine section joins the Beregovaya compressor station near the city of Dzhubga on the Russian shore with a compressor station near the Turkish city of Samsun.
Testing of the first strand of the pipeline has been completed, using a temporary air compressor station and the pipeline is being cleaned. It is planned that testing of the second strand of the pipeline will be carried out from September to December 2002.

Construction of the gas pipeline on Russian territory is also drawing to a close. Of 305 km of pipeline, 282 km of pipe has been welded and 229 km has been laid in the trench and covered. Recultivation of land on 114 km has already been carried out.
The pipeline has already crossed five out of the seven rivers on the route and has also made 33 rail and road crossings. One crossing has yet to be built -- under the Krasnodar-Novorossiisk railway. It is planned to start supplying gas to Turkey through the Blue Stream pipeline in October this year.