BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.21
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
Partial and full expansion options have been identified for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, Trend reports referring to the Draft Project Proposal, on which the public consultation is currently underway.
The document says that the TAP pipeline expansion can be achieved by installing additional compressor units at the compressor stations GCS00 (Kipoi) and ACS03 (Fier) and by the construction of the additional compressor stations GCS01 (Serres) and ACS02 (Bilisht).
No modifications are required to pipeline sections between compressor stations, reads the document.
Reportedly, the following alternative Expansion Projects have been identified: 1) TAP partial expansion – to a total technical capacity of 48.8 MSm3 (mega standard cubic meters) per day at Entry Kipoi; 2) TAP full expansion – to a total technical capacity of 59.5 MSm3 per day at Entry Kipoi.
The required works for expansion to allow transportation of 48.8 MSm3 /day are:
· GCS00: Upgrade of the existing compressor station with the addition of 2 compressor units (approx. 15 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· ACS02: Upgrade of the existing metering facility into a compressor station with the addition of 3+1 compressor units (approx. 25 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade; · ACS03: Upgrade of the existing compressor station with the addition of 2 compressor units (approx. 15 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· IPR01: Upgrade of the metering and pressure reduction station;
The cost for this project is estimated to be 965 M€.
The required works for expansion to allow transportation of 59.5 MSm3 /day are:
· GCS00: Upgrade of the existing compressor station with the addition of 3 compressor units (approx. 15 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· GCS01: Upgrade of the existing scraper facility into a compressor station with the addition of 2+1 compressor units (approx. 25 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· ACS02: Upgrade of the existing metering facility into a compressor station with the addition of 3+1 compressor units (approx. 25 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· ACS03: Upgrade of the existing compressor station with the addition of 2 compressor units (approx. 15 MW each), including relevant facilities, process and utility upgrade;
· IPR01: Upgrade of the metering and pressure reduction station; The cost for this project is estimated to be 1382 M€.
TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.
Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.
The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.
Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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