Christopher E. Smith
Pipeline Editor
HOUSTON, Feb. 1 -- GUEU-White Stream Pipeline Co. Ltd. reported Feb. 1 it is conducting engineering and marketing studies on the viability of constructing and operating a gas pipeline from Georgia across the Black Sea to Ukraine and Romania.
The White Stream pipeline would extend 1,000-1,300 km, depending on routing, including 650 km of deepwater Black Sea line. Current specifications call for 26-in. pipe to be laid in as much as 2,000 m of water.
The pipeline initially would deliver gas from Azerbaijan, but could potentially be tied into other sources, according to GUEU-White Stream.
In December 2007, Russia's OAO Gazprom and Italy's Eni SPA reached commercial agreement on another Black Sea pipeline, South Stream (OGJ, Jan. 25, 2008, Newsletter). Feasibility and marketing studies on that 30 billion cu m/year project are to be completed by yearend. Initial plans call for construction to begin in 2009, with an in-service date of 2013.
Both projects—like the Nabucco pipeline and the January 2007 agreement between Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan to build a pipeline along the Caspian coast—are part of increased activity by Europe to secure non-Russian supplies of natural gas at the same time that Russia attempts to strengthen its grip as Europe's primary supplier.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].