CPC guarantees efficient and environmentally safe movement of crude oil

The Project is designed to increase the trunk pipeline capacity

Clearance of residual danger from mines goes on in CPC Marine Terminal water area

Caspian Pipeline Consortium has been implementing a long-term preventive maintenance project to replace the SPM-1 and SPM-2 buoys, the project involving some activities touching the seabed: the submarine manifolds will be replaced, anchor chains laid, caisson anchors and other SPM equipment installed.

It is noteworthy that during the Great Patriotic War the Marine Terminal zone of operational responsibility saw fierce fighting especially in February 1943 in the course of the Russia beachhead assault in the vicinity of the village of Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka. The CPC corporate magazine dedicated a detailed article to that heroic combat episode of the Great Patriotic War:

https://www.cpc-online.ru/publication/around-us/3994

It was stated before that in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Novorossiysk Seaport and the Russia Black Sea Navy, danger from residual munitions must be eliminated before any activities that involve touching the seabed: it is mandatory to carry out a comprehensive search for and eradication of any objects dangerous from blast.

When the Terminal was being built and later on, during the relevant surveys in CPC Marine Terminal water area, some munitions dating back to the Great Patriotic War were identified and destroyed. Nevertheless, one ought to be mindful that any seabed is subject to the natural movement of the layers of the sea and the shift of the bottom ground.

Safety of the works related to touching the seabed being paramount, since the 15 June 2022 Russia Emercom joint detachment has been doing an additional survey of any potentially dangerous submerged objects in the SPM-1 and SPM-2 water area.

Mobile diving teams and remotely controlled vehicle have been tasked to confirm identification of any objects resembling munitions.

By the 28 June 2022, cumulative side-scan sonar surveys had covered 764,200 square metres, remotely controlled vehicle had covered 8,200 square metres, 24 double dives had been conducted totalling 53 hours 40 minutes and 11,180 square metres of seabed had been surveyed.

On the 27 June 2022 the survey of the SPM-2 safety zone found an explosive object, viz.: an antisweep mine, 1943 modification, the estimated weight of the explosive being 8.8 kg.

It was stated at the earlier meeting of CPC General Director with the Emercom joint detachment commanders that any confirmed munitions would be moved to the location of elimination with due regard to the scope of the danger (off and outside the SPM safety zone). Risk assessment done, the identified object dangerous from blast was moved away from the SPM safety zone and outside the estimated shock wave reach.

Destruction works of the identified explosive object was successfully carried out on 29 June 2022 by the Russia Emercom forces.

Currently, the survey of the seabed in the area of SPM-1 continues, the operation of SPM-1 is suspended until 5 July 2022.

SPM-3 is in routine operation, which allows meeting shippers’ requests as per the current lifting schedule. SPM-2 is going to resume operation on the 1 July 2022.

Based on the results of the disposal of potentially explosive objects, CPC will receive the conclusion of Russia Black Sea Navy Headquarters with permission to carry out work related to touching the bottom in the water area of SPM-1 and SPM-2 transport safety.

For reference:

CPC Pipeline System is one of the major investment projects with foreign capital in energy sector in the CIS. The length of the Tengiz – Novorossiysk pipeline is 1,511 km. This route transports over two thirds of all Kazakhstan export crude, as well as crude from Russian oil fields, including those in the Caspian Region. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with three Single Point Moorings (SPM) that allow to load tankers safely at a significant distance offshore, also amid poor weather conditions.

CPC Shareholders: Federal Agency for State Property Management represented by Transneft (trust management) – 24%, CPC Company – 7%, KazmunayGas – 19%, Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%, Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company – 15%, LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company– 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited– 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited– 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. S.ar.l. – 2% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.​