US experts train Turkmenistan to solve depreciated pipeline problems

A two-day workshop "Integrity of pipelines and their management" was held under aegis of the US energy ministry in Ashgabat on June 11.
"This workshop was the next action towards energy cooperation between the USA and Turkmenistan," the US embassy to Ashgabat said.

Experts of Pensen, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Universal Pegasus companies participated in the meeting. The Turkmen side included representatives of the ministry of oil and gas industry, the state agency on management and use of hydrocarbon resources, state concerns Turkmengaz, Turkmengeology, Turkmenneftgazstroy and Turkmenneft.
The energy forum focused on engineering and design of pipelines, management of depreciated pipeline, estimation of damage and corrosion, inspection and strategy to examine pipeline systems, as well as estimation of cost of repair.

"Many countries, including the USA have depreciated pipelines. They face with financial and exploitation costs. Improvement of pipeline system integrity can aid the country to get maximal profit from production of hydrocarbon," the information said.
Turkmenistan is one of key nations of the Caspian Sea in natural gas supply. Russia bought major part of export last years. But supplies were stopped in April 2009 after accident in main line gas pipeline Middle Asia-Centre built during USSR. Ashgabat accused its major importer -- Russian energy giant Gazprom -- that according to the Turkmen side provoked this incident by reducing choice of Turkmen gas.

Supplies are not resumed as Gazprom announced the necessity to reconsider the long-term contract with intent to reduce volumes of supplies or their cost amid reduction of world demand for this kind of fuel.
Amid world crisis, Ashgabat actively states about its right of diversification of routes of Turkmen natural gas supplies, as well as creation of reliable and stabile system of Turkmen energy resources delivery on international markets. But independent experts have already paid attention to Ashgabat's right. Presently, a gas pipeline to China is under realization of discussed variants to Pakistan and India, from the Caspian to Russia and to Europe via the Caspian Sea.