Sulzer Awarded Key Project in Russia
In November 2006, Sulzer Pumps received a large pumps order from Russia for oil pipelines to be operated by Transneft. The order includes main pipeline, vertical booster and vertical loading pumps. The pipeline is a key infrastructure project in order to transport crude oil from Eastern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean.
The pipeline project has been announced in 2006 by Transneft and will be finished in two years. The 1.2 m diameter, 4130 km pipeline will transport 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day by 2008.
Sulzer Pumps UK will manage the project, manufacture and assemble the pumps. The pumps ordered from Sulzer will be fully tested together with other significant equipment (electric motors and other electrical supplies) at the company’s state-of-the-art test facility at its Leeds site. This shall ensure smooth commissioning and start up.
The ability to design, build, and test large custom designed pumps to match the project’s requirements was a key factor for the selection of the supplier. Sulzer Pumps has extensive experience in designing and building pumps for transcontinental pipelines. It is important that the installed pumps are efficient, reliable, and require a minimum of maintenance. The harsh and remote Siberian environment makes these factors even more critical.