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News 2014

Kashagan

The cost of replacing the pipes at Kashagan field, stopped due to the accident last year, will amount to $ 1.6-3.6 billion and the pipeline contractor will be the Italian Saipem, reports Reuters Agency. Production at Kashagan, the largest giant field, discovered over the past 30 years, started in September 2013 after many years of delays.

However, it was stopped in October, as a result of detecting the leaks in the field gas pipelines. The authorities expect to resume the production in 2016, following replacement of oil and gas pipelines. "The total cost of the basic repair work was evaluated by the contractor at approximately 1.6 billion USD, and, alternatively, at 3.6 billion USD”,-informs the Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy. 

"Given the high risks of repeated leaks when selecting the basic pipe material L360 (X 52), there is a high probability that the the Contractor will chose an alternative pipeline with coating, made of the stainless alloys”. For complete replacement of the pipelines, it is required to have 200 km of new pipes.

The Contractor is also engaged in the commercial negotiations on the pipeline construction and mobilization of twopipe-laying barge with Saipem company, which was previously involved in the pipeline construction works. In early September, the Contractor signed a letter of intent with Saipem, stipulating 100 million dollars to reserve one pipe-laying barge and mobilization of the required equipment and personnel, as well as the upgrade of additional second pipe-laying barge”,-clarifies the document.