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Title: World's longest under-river pipeline uses a horizontal drilling technique

Journal Article · · Oil Gas J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6130284

Directional drilling proved the most reliable and efficient means of crossing Venezuela's Orinoco River with a thiro natural gas pipeline. The line is the world's longest under-river large-diameter pipeline. The crossing was part of a major effort during third quarter 1982 to guarantee a reliable supply of natural gas to the industrial zone of Guyana in the south of Venezuela. Corpoven had commissioned a new loop of the existing Anaco-Puerto Ordaz Gas-Pipeline System. This third crossing consisted mainly of laying a 22-in. (1.0-in w.t.) epoxy coated carbon steel pipeline from the north bank of the Orinoco River at the Macapaima Station to the Puerto Ordaz Station on the south bank. The length of the crossing was 1,327 M (4,550 ft), the world's longest large-diameter under-river pipeline crossing using horizontal directional drilling at the time. To satisfy natural-gas requirements of the growing industrial zone of Guyana, Corporacion Venezolana Del Petroled (C.V.P.) had built in 1969 227-km, 20-in. gas line from Anaco state of Anzoategui, to Puerto Ordaz, state of Bolivar, with a 172 MMCFD capacity. The run of the pipeline included a crossing of the Orinoco River. That first crossing was performed during the low water period of 1968-1969 by means of the jet system. Later, three expansions of the pipeline were made, the last one being the second Orinoco River crossing. With that crossing, the line reached the programmed capacity of 475 MMCFD.

Research Organization:
Corpoven S.A., Caracas
OSTI ID:
6130284
Journal Information:
Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 84:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English