Pipelines in Azerbaijan
The centre of the country's oil industry and nexus of its pipelines are at Baku.
The first oil pipeline was formed in Absheron district in connection with oil production in the country. The total length of the country's oil pipeline is more than 1,500 kilometres (930 mi), with 80% of it located in the Absheron Economic Region. Important oil pipelines within the republic include: Shirvan–Baku (former Ali-Bayramly–Baku), 130 km (81 mi); Shirvan–Dashgil, 40 km (25 mi); Dubandi-Boyukshor, 40 km (25 mi); Dubandi-Keshla, 40 km (25 mi); Dashgil-Sangachal-Keshla, 90 km (56 mi); Buzovna-Sabunchu, 20 km (12 mi); and Binagadi-Keshla, 8 km (5.0 mi).[1][2]
Pipelines
There had been an oil industry at Baku since at least the 17th century. Beginning in the 19th century, pipelines were constructed to transport crude oil from the oil fields to the refineries. The first pipeline was constructed in 1878 by Baku Oil Refinery, connecting to Balakhani Mines. The 800-kilometre-long (500 mi) Baku–Batumi oil pipeline was put into operation in the beginning of the 20th century. Oil and gas field exploitation in Absheron and the Caspian Sea required the construction of new pipelines to Baku. These main oil pipelines are Alibayramly–Baku, Neftdashlari–Baku, and Siyazan–Baku. Natural gas is transported through Garadagh–Agstafa, Garadagh–Baku, Siyazan–Baku, Neftdashlari–Baku, and Zira–Baku pipelines.
The main route options for export pipelines (to Europe) are:
- Baku-Batum pipeline (1897-1907)
- Baku–Grozny–Novorossiysk (a.k.a. the northern route)
- Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa (the western route)
- Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (main oil pipeline named after Heydar Aliyev)
- Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum gas pipeline (a.k.a. Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline)
Baku–Grozny–Tikhoretsk–Novorossiysk
The agreement for the northern route was signed on February 18, 1996, in Moscow. This pipeline transports Azerbaijani oil into the
Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa
The second pipeline is the western route, Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa, made through an agreement between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia on March 8, 1996. It has a total length of 920 km (570 mi) with 480 km (300 mi) in Azerbaijan. It transports primary Azeri oil from Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli fields through Baku. Trilateral contracts were signed among AIOC, SOCAR and the Georgian government.[5] This line was put into operation on April 17, 1999, and exports 15 million tons of oil per year to Western countries[6] It has lower operating costs than the northern route; transporting a ton of oil to Novorossiysk costs US$15.67, but to Supsa is $13.14.[6] From the Georgian port of Supsa, oil can then be shipped via the Bosporus.[7]
Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan
The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline transports oil to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Caspian Sea for export to European markets through the Mediterranean. It has a total length of 1,768 km (1,099 mi) with 443 km (275 mi) in Azerbaijan, 249 km (155 mi) in Georgia and 1,076 km (669 mi) in Turkey. Since 2006, 50 million tons of oil per year is exported through this pipeline.[8]
Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum gas pipeline
A commercial agreement was signed on the sale of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey, carried via pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Turkish port of Erzurum in Turkey, from where it will be sold to Europe. The pipeline was planned to be 443 km (275 mi) long with a capacity of 30 billion cubic metres per year.[9][1]
Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline
The Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) is planned to transport natural gas across Turkey, expanding the capacity from the South Caucasus pipeline. It is to start in Azerbaijan and connect to several pipelines in the European Union. The projected cost of the pipeline and associated infrastructure is US$7 billion. The first of four stages was to be completed in 2018.[needs update] Planned capacity of the pipeline is 16 billion cubic meters in 2020, 23 billion cubic meters in 2023, and 31 billion cubic meters in 2026. During the first period, it is to be sold 10:6 to Europe and Turkey, with the European portion being transported through Turkey to Bulgaria or Greece.[10]
Trans Adriatic gas pipeline
Wholly outside of Azerbaijan, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP) would connect TANAP to European pipelines. The planned pipeline would connect to TANAP at the Greece–Turkey border, passing through Greece, Albania, and crossing the Adriatic Sea to Italy. In Italy, it is to connect with the "Snam Rete Gas" (SRG) network. The TAP project was chosen as the most direct way to export natural gas from Azerbaijan to European markets. An intergovernmental agreement was signed between Albania, Italy and Greece in February 2013.[11]
References
- ^ a b "Strategy of transportation of energy resources".
- ^ "Pipe transport. TRACECA ORG". www.traceca-org.org. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "SOCAR - Three Years of Accomplishments by Natig Aliyev". www.azer.com. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "Pipeline transport".
- ^ "Georgia, Azerbaijan Mark 20 Years Since Launch of Baku-Supsa Pipeline". Georgia Today on the Web. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ a b "Historical background to the document "Speech by Heydar Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Supsa at the ceremony held on the occasion of the commissioning of Baku–Supsa oil pipeline (April 17, 1999)"". lib.aliyevheritage.org. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "Western Route Export Pipeline | Pipelines | Operations and projects | BP Caspian". bp.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline".
- ^ "Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Gas Pipeline". www.socar.az. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ "TRANS ANATOLIAN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT - TANAP".
- ^ Columns. "Greece, Italy and Albania sign a tri-lateral intergovernmental agreement, demonstrating their full support for TAP". TAP. Retrieved July 1, 2018.