Linefill and completion of the BTC pipeline is continuing with the focus on the rigorous testing and commissioning activities to ensure the integrity and safety of each section of the pipeline prior to introducing oil, BP, an operator of BTC Co., announced. This is taking longer than expected, but the company’s aim is to complete this safely and ensure that the pipeline will operate efficiently for the next 40 years or more.
The company continues to make steady progress in the linefill programme and is now planning the official inauguration of the Turkish section of the pipeline and the Ceyhan
Terminal to take place in spring next year once oil has reached the terminal and the first tanker has been loaded. 4 million barrels of oil is already in the pipeline.
The Turkish section is 1,070 kilometres long. It includes 4 pump stations, two metering stations and the Ceyhan marine export terminal which itself consists of seven crude oil storage tanks, and a 2 kilometer long jetty to load two tankers of up to 300,000 dwt simultaneously.
Commissioning of the Ceyhan Terminal facilities is already underway, using a cargo of crude oil delivered from the Supsa terminal. Following commissioning the terminal will be fully ready to receive oil through BTC on arrival at Ceyhan.