The first pipe of TurkStream has been laid

The map of the TurkStream pipeline (courtesy of Gazprom)

The map of the TurkStream pipeline (courtesy of Gazprom)

Russian energy giant Gazprom has released a press statement in which it declared that the construction of the TurkStream gas pipeline was commenced in the Black Sea near the Russian coast. Pipelaying is being carried out by the Audacia vessel owned by Allseas, the selected construction contractor for both strings of the gas pipeline’s offshore section. The vessel will be also used for pipe pulling through microtunnels. Construction works for the TurkStream gas pipeline in the deep-water area will be performed by the Pioneering Spirit pipe-laying vessel.
TurkStream is the project for a transit-free export gas pipeline stretching across the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey and further to Turkey’s border with neighboring countries. The first string of the gas pipeline is intended for Turkish consumers, while the second string will deliver gas to southern and southeastern Europe. Each string will have the throughput capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year. On October 10, 2016, Russia and Turkey signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on the TurkStream project. South Stream Transport B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, is responsible for the construction of the gas pipeline’s offshore section.