Pipeline connection for refinery extension in Suriname
Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. commissioned Visser & Smit Hanab to create a pipeline connection between the SOL storage station in Beekhuizen and Staatsolie's new refinery on Sir Winston Churchillweg in Paramaribo. The work carried out by Visser & Smit Hanab forms part of the extension of the refinery belonging to Staatsolie in Paramaribo.
Together with contractors, the project team started getting everything ready in November for the drilling work involved in the pipeline project. Strings were welded, examined and tested before being joined.
Visser & Smit Hanab is performing four instances of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with a total length of 4.4 kilometres. This pertains to HDD, in which pipe bundles are pulled. These bundles comprise three or four pipes with diameters of 4” (LPG), 6” (pipe casing FOC), 8” (gasoline) and 10” (diesel). The first drill hole will be 500 metres in length and the second will be 700 metres long. These first two drill holes will accommodate a bundle consisting of a 6”, 8” and 10” pipe. The third and fourth drill holes will have lengths of 1,700 metres and 1,300 metres, respectively, and accommodate a bundle comprising a 4”, 6”, 8” and 10” pipe.
The drill holes are being created along the bank of the Suriname River. Drilling was chosen to avoid inconveniencing landowners.
Once the drill holes have been drilled, they will be linked by means of open excavations. The entire project will encompass the laying of over 1,100 metres of pipeline by means of open excavation, so as to enable completion of the pipeline connection. Two important sections are the old Bruynzeel site, measuring over 700 metres, and a branch (between HDD2 & HDD3) leading to two terminals called SOL and OGANE, each in excess of 350 metres.
In line with planning, the project is to be completed in mid-2014.
Click HERE for a video impression of this project.