The 530 mm (20.86”) Western Route Export Pipeline (WREP) is an export route for crude oil from the Sangachal Terminal in Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea loading terminal at Supsa in Georgia.
Ongoing maintenance and integrity work by the pipeline operator identifi ed areas of concern on certain sections of WREP. To mitigate this risk a reduced export capacity of 106,000 bbl/d has been temporarily imposed on the pipeline system.
As part of the Sectional Replacement Project the pipeline sections are replaced in these areas of concern. This, paired with the monitoring and periodic maintenance of the entire pipeline,
increases its integrity signifi cantly and enables WREP to operate at its design capacity of 145,000 bbl/d.
In addition to the construction and completion of the three river crossings by using HDD techniques DrillTec was also responsible for the engineering and the material management.
Challenges:
1. WREP line extended over two countries (Georgia and Azerbaijan) – After completion of drilling operations, the complete rig had to be transported (under diffi cult organisational conditions) from Georgia to Azerbaijan within a short time. The prescribed
schedule could only be adhered due to a cooperation between brokers in Georgia – Azerbaijan – Germany (Neuhausen transport department).
2. Preparation and repair of the rig and the associated equipment within 3 months, since the rig was working for another project.
3. Loading and transportation of the equipment from Germany to Georgia with totally 46 trucks within 10 working days. Logistically very demanding, since most of it was transported with open panels, which is usually very diffi cult in this amount of trucks abroad.
4. Geological peculiarity at Supsa – Export: Gravelly soil which can complicate drilling. A special polymer (Pure Bore) was used to stabilise the gravel.
5. Use of Pipe Thruster on Supsa - export as backup solution when pulling in the 36“ product pipe.
6.Due to very good preparation and maintenance / care of the complete drilling equipment (during the project), non-productive time was minimised.