Ninian pipeline

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Ninian Pipeline
Location
Country
Total S.A.
OperatorBP
Commissioned1978
Technical information
Length175 km (109 mi)
Maximum discharge0.91 million barrels per day (~4.5×10^7 t/a)
Diameter36 in (914 mm)

The Ninian Pipeline is a 175 kilometres (109 mi) long crude oil pipeline, which runs from the

Shetland Islands of Scotland
.

Specification

The Ninian pipeline was laid in July 1976. It is a X65 steel pipeline with an outside diameter of 36 inches (910 mm) with a wall thickness of 0.75 and 0.875 inches.[1]

The pipeline has a corrosion coating and a 65 mm concrete buoyancy coating. There are 200 kg Sacrificial zinc (Impalloy) anodes at ever 12th joint, with a total mass of 150 tonnes. Buckle arrestors comprising steel sleeves 1-inch thick and 2 m long are located every 36th joint.[1]

The pipeline has a maximum design capacity of 910,000 bbl/day and a maximum operating pressure of 1800 psia (124 barg).[1]

Oil production

Ninian Central acted as an oil reception and export hub for a number of installations in the northern North Sea. Ninian Central receives, or received, oil from the following installations:[2]

  • Ninian Northern (24" oil pipeline)
  • Ninian Southern (24" oil pipeline)
  • Strathspey (8" and 10" oil pipelines)
  • Heather (16" oil pipeline)
  • Magnus (24" oil pipeline)
  • Alwyn (12" oil pipeline)
  • Lyell (12" and 8" oil pipeline)

From the Ninian Central oil processing facilities crude oil flows to the crude oil booster pumps, a metering skid and Main Oil Line (MOL) pumps.[3] After the MOL pumps the fluids were co-mingled with oil from the Strathspey, Ninian Northern, Heather and Magnus platforms.

Oil from the field is exported through the 36" pipeline to Sullom Voe (175 km).[4]

The first oil was received at the Sullom Voe Terminal in December 1978.

Owner and operator

The pipeline was initially operated by BP on behalf of the partner companies.[4]

As of June 2021 the pipeline was operated by EnQuest on behalf of the owners:[5]

  • EnQuest Heather Limited (Operator) 18.0511%
  • CNR International (UK) Ltd 63.3271%
  • Chevron North Sea Ltd 2.2601%
  • Total E&P UK Limited 16.3616%

See also

Ninian Central Platform

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c Oilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Oilfield Publications Limited. p. 564.
  2. ^ Lindop, Paul H (1992). "The Ninian Pipeline System in the UK North Sea - Developments for the second generation of fields". Energy Exploration & Exploitation. 10 (4/5): 247–9, 254.
  3. ^ Ninian Central Process Flow Diagram
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ "Ninian pipeline system" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2022.