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Record breaking ESPO pipeline contract

The East Siberian to Pacific Ocean pipeline is the world’s largest pipeline project, designed to transport oil from the East Siberian oilfields out to the Pacific Ocean. Replacing the current method of shipping oil by rail, the new pipeline is a strategic investment by state-owned company Transneft and will have an eventual capacity for 1.6 million barrels per day when fully developed.

To pump the Russian crude down the length of the pipeline will need some twenty main oil line pumps plus 14 booster pumps. Lubricating these pumps and maintaining the integrity of the pump seals is where KT Hydraulics’ expertise comes to the fore.

The KTH contract covers seal and lubrication systems for the first six of eleven pumping stations. This comprises of 24 lube oil systems each weighing in at over 4 tonnes, mounted on its own baseplate and comprising of a 4,000 litre tank with gauge panel, instrumentation and a 450 litre per minute lubricant pump.

The seal systems, which will be mounted on the main pump skids will be smaller in size but designed, built and tested to the same rigorous specifications in 316 stainless steel to ensure suitability for operating in the extreme low temperature Siberian environment.

KTH is an integral part of the successful team of British companies that have secured more than £78 million of work on the ESPO pipeline. Working alongside pump manufacturer Sulzer and seal system supplier Burgmann, KTH has been involved in over 18 months of groundwork, developing the solutions required for this unique and arduous application.

One of the pump houses on the ESPO pipeline, now fully operational and pumping Siberian crude to towards the Pacific ports.