Greenstream pipeline
Encyclopedia
The Greenstream pipeline, part of the Western Libyan Gas Project
, is a natural gas
submarine pipeline
from Libya
to Italy
.
, that used for pipeline laying the Castoro Sei
and Crawler vessels. The shore approach and landfall works were done by Boskalis Offshore
.
The supplies started on 1 October 2004 and the pipeline was inaugurated on 7 October 2004 by Silvio Berlusconi
and Muammar Gaddafi
.
, in Sicily
, Italy. It includes also the Mellitah compressor station and the Gela reception terminal. The pipeline is supplied from the Bahr Essalam offshore field, Bouri Field
and Wafa field near Algeria
n border, 530 kilometres (329.3 mi) from Mellitah. The construction cost US$6.6 billion. The pipeline has a diameter of 32 inches (812.8 mm) and an initial capacity of 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year. Later the capacity was increased to 11 bcm.
and the National Oil Corporation (NOC)
of Libya.
Western Libyan Gas Project
The Western Libyan Gas Project is a 50-50 joint venture between the Libyan National Oil Corporation and the Italian company Eni which came online in October 2004. By July 2007, per year of natural gas was being exported from a processing facility at Melitah, on the Libyan coast, through the...
, is a natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
submarine pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The idea of natural gas from Libya to Italy originating from the 1970s. Feasibility studies were carried out in the 1980s and 1990s. Construction of the pipeline started in 2003. The pipeline's main contractor was SaipemSaipem
Saipem S.p.A. is an Italian oil and gas industry contractor. It is a subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, which owns approximately 43% of Saipem's shares. Saipem has contracted for designing and constructing several pipelines, including Blue Stream, Greenstream, Nord Stream and South...
, that used for pipeline laying the Castoro Sei
Castoro Sei
The Castoro Sei is a column stabilized semi-submersible pipelay vessel. She has an overall length of , a width of and a operating draught of . The Castoro Sei is equipped with 2 rotating gantry cranes 134 tonnes capacity and three 110 tonne pipe tensioners for pipelaying...
and Crawler vessels. The shore approach and landfall works were done by Boskalis Offshore
Royal Boskalis Westminster
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. is a Netherlands-based company that provides services relating to the construction and maintenance of maritime infrastructure on an international basis...
.
The supplies started on 1 October 2004 and the pipeline was inaugurated on 7 October 2004 by Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
and Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
.
Technical features
The Greenstream pipeline is 540 kilometres (335.5 mi) long and it runs from Mellitah in Libya to GelaGela
Gela is a town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta in the south of Sicily, Italy. The city is at about 84 kilometers distance from the city of Caltanissetta, on the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a larger population than the provincial capital, and ranks second in land area.Gela is an...
, in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy. It includes also the Mellitah compressor station and the Gela reception terminal. The pipeline is supplied from the Bahr Essalam offshore field, Bouri Field
Bouri Field
The Bouri Offshore Field is part of Block NC-41, which is located north of the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea. It was first discovered in 1976 at a depth of and is estimated to contain in proven recoverable crude oil reserves and of associated natural gas with an annual production...
and Wafa field near Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n border, 530 kilometres (329.3 mi) from Mellitah. The construction cost US$6.6 billion. The pipeline has a diameter of 32 inches (812.8 mm) and an initial capacity of 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year. Later the capacity was increased to 11 bcm.
Ownership
The pipeline is constructed and owned by Agip Gas BV, a joint venture of the Italian energy company EniEni
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company, present in 70 countries, and currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of 87.7 billion euros , as of July 24, 2008...
and the National Oil Corporation (NOC)
National Oil Corporation
The National Oil Corporation is the national oil company of Libya. It dominates Libya's oil industry, along with a number of smaller subsidiaries, which combined account for around 70% the country's oil output...
of Libya.
See also
- Trans-Mediterranean PipelineTrans-Mediterranean PipelineThe Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline from Algeria via Tunisia to Sicily and thence to mainland Italy. An extension of the TransMed pipeline delivers Algerian gas to Slovenia.-History:...
- GALSIGALSIGALSI is a planned natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Sardinia and further northern Italy.-History:The feasibility study was completed in 2005...
- MedgazMedgazMedgaz is a submarine natural gas pipeline between Algeria and Spain.-History:The idea of building a direct gas pipeline between Algeria and Europe arose in the 1970s. However, the technical limitations at that time prevented the construction and operation of an ultra deepwater gas pipeline...
- Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline
- Trans-Saharan gas pipeline