SPM-3 resumes operation at CPC Marine Terminal
On 23 April 2022, SPM-3 went back into service after repairs at the CPC Marine Terminal. As the weather improved for a short period of time on 23 April 2022, it allowed diving work to be carried out and a pipeline end manifold (PLEM) to be opened, enabling crude oil loading to be resumed from that SPM, according to CPC.
CPC and contractor personnel had earlier flushed the single point mooring with the help of a tanker, replaced damaged floating hoses, and successfully hydrotested and checked all SPM systems.
Currently, SPM-3 has a tanker, Delta Commander, moored to it and loading.
SPM-2 remains temporarily out of service. SPM-1 is in normal operation.
As a reminder, SPM-3 was found to have damage in the form of carcass displacement on one of the floating hoses after a period of bad weather on 21 and 22 March 2022. The defects were found and equipment was put out of service in a timely manner which allowed to preclude the possibility of an emergency oil spill in the Black Sea.
The situation in the area of the CPC Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk was also monitored by experts of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Usage. No oil spill was recorded.
The CPC Pipeline System is one of the largest energy investment projects that involves foreign capital in the CIS. The length of the Tengiz – Novorossiysk pipeline is 1,511 km. This route moves over two thirds of all Kazakhstan export oil along with crude from Russian fields including those in the Caspian region. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with three Single Point Moorings (SPM), allowing tankers to be loaded safely at significant distance offshore, including in poor weather conditions.
CPC Shareholders: Federal Agency for State Property Management represented by Transneft (trustee) – 24%, CPC Company – 7%, KazMunayGas – 19%; Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%, Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company – 15%, LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company - 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited - 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2%, and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.
