poland
Pipeline Operation
Russia
Lubmin
> Gas transported through the Baltic Sea via the Nord Stream
lithuania
N
Estonia
Germany and Russia. The pipeline operators are in constant contact
ord Streams business model is Nord Stream must also manage the opera-
with the gas supplier and receivers to assess the flow of gas.
Vyborg
N
capacity for the natural gas com- ards, and to local and national regulations at
Finland ord Streams operating staff moni- receiving terminal, that the operating limits ing from Siberia for distribution the Russian and German landfalls.
tors safety processes and param- are not exceeded. In the case that any safety into the European gas grid.
eters such as pressure, tempera- processes or parameters are violated, auto- As operator, Nord Stream AG offers gas
ture, flow rate and gas specifications matic safeguards will close the inlet valves. The The gas transportation system is comprised transportation capacities via its pipelines.
associated with the transport nomination (the valves can only be reopened once the operat- of its twin, 1,224-kilometre pipelines through A contractual framework is in place to ensure
delivery of a specified volume of gas over a ing conditions have been restored. The design the Baltic Sea. Each has the capacity to the transport of gas from the entry point of
defined period of time). The systems on Nord pressure of the pipelines is 220 bar where transport 27.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of the pipelines in Russia to the exit point in
Streams side interface with the compressor the gas enters the pipeline in Russia, and natural gas a year. The combined annual Germany. There, the gas will be received by
station in Russia and the receiving terminal in approximately 177.5 bar at the end of the lines capacity of 55 bcm is enough to meet the the connecting pipelines OPAL (Baltic Sea
during their lifetimes Germany to guarantee that all para-meters are in Germany. During operations of the pipelines, energy demand of 26 million European Pipeline Link) and NEL (North European
met. In the event of the parameters approach- the target pressure is about 100 bar. All safe- households. Nord Stream will meet almost Gas Pipeline) for further transport into the
ensure safe operation of the Nord Stream Pipelines ing an operating limit, the operators ensure, via ty systems fall under the responsibility of Nord one-third of the European Unions additional European grid.
Constant monitoring and regular maintenance timely communication and coordination with Stream. Operators at Nord Stream coordinate gas import requirement by the year 2030.
the compressor station and the gas transportation with upstream and down- The twin pipeline system is built to operate Nord Stream also operates three pipeline
stream operators who also continuously for a period of at least 50 years. The opera- facilities: landfalls in Russia and Germany
of the Offshore Pipeline measure the various design parameters and tion of the Nord Stream Pipelines was per- where the offshore pipeline ties in to the on-
quality specifications at several locations on mitted by all relevant national authorities in shore connecting pipelines; and a Control
both ends of the transportation system. the countries whose waters Nord Stream Centre located at the company headquarters
Overseeing Operations crosses. Additionally, the complete design in Zug, Switzerland from where the pipe-
U
the survey vessel. even minor irregularities.
p to 55 billion cubic metres of shut-down valves to separate the offshore and
gas can be transported annually onshore pipelines, as well as a number of sen- Satellite Uplink
through Nord Streams twin 1,224 sors to monitor parameters, such as pres- A satellite uplink enables operators at
kilometre pipelines. Line 1 became sure, temperature, gas quality and flow. Regu- Survey Vessel the Control Centre to remotely monitor
operational in November 2011, and Line 2 will lar maintenance, inspection, and testing also Visual external inspection of all parameters of gas flow through
the pipelines is carried out by a Nord Stream.
be on stream by the last quarter of 2012. Nord take place at the landfalls. Offshore, the pipe-
survey vessel using a ROV.
Stream operates three pipeline facilities: land- lines periodically undergo external and inter-
falls in Russia and Germany where the off- nal inspections. The operation of the pipelines
shore pipelines tie into the onshore connect- is remotely monitored from the Control Centre
ing pipelines, and a Control Centre in Switzer- 365 days a year, around the clock. The opera-
land, from where the pipelines are monitored tors are in constant contact with the supplier
and operated. Equipment needed for the of gas and the receivers to assess the flow
operation of the pipelines is located at the of gas on a daily basis and to ensure that the Line 1 and Line 2 Pigging
landfalls, including isolation and emergency pipelines are operating as planned. Line 1 of the Nord Stream Internal inspection of the pipelines Finland
Pipeline system has been is performed by PIGs. They are
operational since November sent from the launcher at the
2011. Line 2 will be Russian landfall and travel with Gryazovets-Vyborg Pipeline
operational in the last the gas flow to the PIG receiver at Nord Stream Twin Pipelines The natural gas that will flow into the
quarter of 2012. the German landfall. Each of the pipelines has the capacity Nord Stream Pipelines travels from Siberia
1 to transport 27.5 billion cubic metres of through this 917-kilometre pipeline.
gas a year.
2 Vyborg
Landfall Facility, Germany Russia
Arriving from offshore in the Bay of Griefswald,
Nord Streams pipelines reach land in Lubmin.
When gas arrives here, it is cleaned of potential
impurities in special filters, and heated to
prevent condensation. At the landfall, estonia
incoming and outgoing gas streams are
also checked for quality, subjected to
official measurement, and adjusted
in terms of pressure and volume denmark
before being transported further
through OPAL and NEL. sweden
l at v i a
lithuania
e n gl a n d Lubmin
Russia
NEL Connecting Pipeline germany
poland
NEL (North European Gas Pipeline) is
440 kilometres long and has a transport
capacity of 20 billion cubic metres.
Cable Connection The Control Centre is equipped with a large video wall
display, as well as operator and engineering work stations.
A dedicated cable connection
The operators not only monitor the gas flow from here, but
enables operators at the Control
Centre to remotely monitor all Zug also can open or shut the pipeline valves with the push of
a button when necessary. The facility is manned 24 hours
parameters of gas flow through
a day, 365 days a year.
Nord Stream.
switzerland
Infographic produced by
KircherBurkhardt 2011