Central Asia–Center Gas Pipeline

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This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Media and Democracy.
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Central Asia–Center Gas Pipeline is an operating natural gas pipeline.[1]

Location

The pipeline runs from Dauletabad gas field and Okarem, Turkmenistan through Shatlyk gas field, Khiva, Kungrad, Cheleken, and Beyneu to Alexandrov Gay, Russia.

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Project Details

  • Owner: Gazprom, Türkmengaz, Uzbekneftegas, KazMunayGas
  • Current capacity: 90 billion cubic meters per year
  • Length: 4,405 km kilometers[2]
  • Status: Operating
  • Start Year: 1969

Background

The Central Asia – Center gas pipeline system is a Gazprom-controlled system of natural gas pipelines, which run from Turkmenistan via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Russia. The eastern branch includes the Central Asia - Center (CAC) 1, 2, 4 and 5 pipelines, which start from the south-eastern gas fields of Turkmenistan. The western branch consists of the CAC-3 pipeline and a project to build a new parallel Caspian pipeline. The western branch runs from the Caspian Sea coast of Turkmenistan to the north.[3] The branches meet in western Kazakhstan. From there the pipelines run north where they are connected to the Russian natural gas pipeline system.[4]

History

The system was built between 1960 and 1988. Construction began after discovery of Turkmenistan's Dzharkak field in the Amu Darya Basin, and the first section of the pipeline was completed in 1960.[5][6] CAC-1 and 2 were commissioned in 1969 and CAC-4 was commissioned in 1973.[7] In 1976, two parallel lines were laid between Shatlyk compressor station and Khiva. CAC-5 was commissioned in 1985 and in 1986-88 the Dauletabad–Khiva line was connected.[8] The western branch (CAC-3) was constructed in 1972-1975.[7]

In 2003, the President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov proposed to renovate existing systems and construct a new pipeline parallel to the western branch.[9][10] On 12 May 2007, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan signed a memorandum for renovation and expansion of the western branch of the pipeline.[11][12] On 20 December 2007, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan finalized agreement on construction of the Caspian Coastal Pipeline parallel to the existing CAC-3 pipeline (known as the Bekdash–Europe pipeline or Okarem–Beineu pipeline).

Technical features

Almost all Uzbek and Turkmen natural gas is delivered through the CAC pipeline system, mainly through the eastern branch due to location of production sites and poor technical condition of the western branch. CAC-1, 2, 4 and 5 pipelines are supplied from gas fields in the South-East of Turkmenistan, mainly from the Dauletabad gas field.[6] The eastern branch starts from the Dauletabad field and continues through the Shatlyk gas field east of Tejen to Khiva, Uzbekistan. From there the pipeline system transports gas northwest along Amu Darya to the Kungrad compressor station in Uzbekistan. From Kungrad, most of the gas is carried via Kazakhstan to the Alexandrov Gay gas metering station in Russia.[8] At Alexandrov Gay CAC pipelines meet with Soyuz and Orenburg–Novopskov pipelines. From there two lines run northwest to Moscow, and two others proceed across the Volga river to the North Caucasus-Moscow transmission system.[6] The diameter of most pipelines varies from 1020 mm to 1420 mm. The western branch originates at Okarem near the Turkmenistan–Iran border and runs north. It is supplied by gas from fields scattered along the Caspian coast between Okarem and Balkanabat. It continues via Uzen, Kazakhstan to the Beyneu compressor station, where it meets the eastern branch of the CAC. South of Hazar, Turkmenistan, the western system consists of 710 mm (30 in) diameter pipeline, and between Hazar and Beyneau 1220 mm (50 in) diameter pipeline.[8]

The pipeline system is comprised of the following lines:[2]

Route of mainline Pipe diameter (mm) Pressure (MPa) Length (km) Number of threads Countries the mainline passes through
Sovetabad-Karakumskaya 1400 7.4 247 2 Turkmenistan
Karakum-Khiva 1400 7.4 350 3 Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Hiva-Beineu 1000, 1200, 1400 5.4, 7.4 640 1,2,3 Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
Beineu-Makat 1000, 1200, 1400 5.4, 7.4 305 1,4 Kazakhstan
Makat-Alexandrov Gai 1000, 1200, 1400 5.4, 7.4 451 1,2,3 Kazakhstan, Russia
Okarem-Beineu 500, 700, 1000, 1200 5.4 999 999 Kazakhstan
Gazli-Khiva 1000, 1200 5.4 348 1,2,3 Uzbekistan
Plot Alexandrov Gai-Voskresensk 1000, 1200 5.4 918 3 Russia
Plot Aleksandrov Gai-Ostrogozhsk 2 1200 5.4 744 3 Russia

Caspian coastal pipeline

On 20 December 2007, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed to construct a new Caspian pipeline parallel to the existing CAC-3 pipeline. The pipeline is planned be built between Belek compressor station in Turkmenistan and Alexandrov Gay compressor station.[13] Capacity of the new pipeline will be 20–30 bcm per year and it would be supplied from the planned East–West pipeline.[14][15] Construction of the pipeline was to start in the second half of 2009.[16] However, the project was mothballed.[17]

Articles and resources

References

  1. Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system, Wikipedia, accessed April 2018
  2. 2.0 2.1 Projects of Gas Transport Facilities VTG, accessed November 1, 2019
  3. Michael Fredholm (September 2005). "The Russian Energy Strategy & Energy Policy: Pipeline Diplomacy or Mutual Dependence?" (PDF). Conflict Studies Research Centre. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  4. Shamil Midkhatovich Yenikeyeff (November 2008). "Kazakhstan's Gas: Export Markets and Export Routes" (PDF). Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Retrieved on 2008-11-12. 
  5. Uzbekistan’s Unlikely Dream to Supply Europe with Gas. silkroadreporters.com (2015).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Martha Brill Olcott (May 2004). "International Gas Trade in Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Iran, Russia and Afghanistan. Working Paper #28" (PDF). Stanford Institute for International Studies. Retrieved on 2007-12-20. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Privatization of the Power and Natural Gas Industries in Hungary and Kazakhstan" (PDF) (December 1999). World Bank. WTP451. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 (1998) Caspian Oil and Gas (PDF), International Energy Agency. ISBN 92-64-16095-7. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  9. "Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agree to renovate the Caspian gas pipeline" (14 May 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  10. Robert M. Cutler (4 August 2009). "Moscow and Ashgabat fail to agree over the Caspian Coastal Pipeline", Central Asia-Caucasus Institute. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  11. "Putin deal torpedoes Trans-Caspian gas pipeline plans", Centre for the New Europe (17 May 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-19. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. 
  12. "Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan agree landmark gas pipeline deal", Forbes (13 May 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-19. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. 
  13. Daly, John C. K. (14 December 2007). "Turkmenistan, Natural Gas, and the West", Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved on 2010-10-28. 
  14. Isabel Gorst (20 December 2007). "Russia seals Central Asian gas pipeline deal", Financial Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-20. 
  15. "Turkmenistan-Russia Breakthrough: Resuming Gas Supplies, Building Pipelines" (23 December 2009). Retrieved on 2010-05-29. 
  16. "Putin Okays Caspian Gas Pipe Accord for Ratification", Downstream Today (11 November 2008). Retrieved on 2008-11-22. 
  17. "Russia, Turkmenistan extend Caspian gas link freeze-paper" (23 October 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-28. 

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External resources

External articles

Wikipedia also has an article on Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system (Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system). This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License].