OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2009. Stroytransgaz has begun welding the linear part of the Malai-Bartyyarlyk gas pipeline in Turkmenistan. The pipeline will run 184.54 kilometers and have a diameter of 1,420 millimeters. State company Turkmengaz is customer for the project. In April 2008 Stroytransgaz and Turkmengaz concluded a contract for the project on EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) terms.

The pipeline will begin at the Malia field and run to the gas metering point near the village of Bagtyyarkyk on the border with Uzbekistan. Its route will take it through the sandy desert of Karakum, the largest desert in Central Asia.

As general contractor, Stroytransgaz will construct the linear part of the pipeline, the gas drying unit, the self-supporting metering center, the operations base, launcher and receiver units for the processing facilities, and electrotransmission lines. It will assemble the line’s valve units and systems for electrochemical protection and telemechanics (SCADA). In addition, the company will build two helicopter  decks, five auto and rail road crossings, and a 1.7-kilometer crossing of the Amurdarya River; the latter, using horizontal directional drilling.

Presently the company is doing construction-assembly work on the right bank of the river. On that 61.8-kilometer section of the pipeline, land has been fully cleared and the right of way planned. More than 130 units of construction equipment have been mobilized onsite; pipe is being laid along the route. Cargo for building the right-bank section of the gas pipeline is delivered by barge from the Karabekaul and Palvart railway stations, situated on the left bank of the Amudarya.

Line welding of the gas pipeline is being undertaken with the help of a CRC-Evans automatic welding system. This will accelerate construction significantly and ensure high-quality work.