OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2012. TNK-BP reports that it will increase the scope of pipeline dismantling in KhMAO to 1,282.6 km in 2013, which is 10% more than last year.

The total length of pipelines operated by TNK-BP is 21,685 km. The Company is continuously implementing a comprehensive program to ensure pipeline infrastructure integrity, that includes pipeline monitoring, diagnostics, protection, repair, and replacement. Since 2004 over USD 1 bn has been allocated for this purpose. To date a total of 7,700 km of pipelines (36% of the total pipeline length) have been replaced, 12,183 km of pipelines have been inhibited (56%), and 8,532 km of pipelines (73%) have been protected against internal corrosion.

The Company has carried out technical diagnostics of 100% of the pipelines ensuring high accuracy of measurements by means of innovative testing methods. TNK-BP uses a hi-tech pipeline diagnostics system with total scanning, which allows efficient and high-accuracy detection of almost all internal and external defects. The accuracy of measurements received as a result of a pilot project exceeds several times the capabilities of similar existing systems.

"The innovative approach ensures maximum control of the pipeline systems' condition and prevents potential loss of containment at a very early stage. This is a brand new approach that will allow us not only to minimize the environmental impact, but also to reduce the costs for Company pipelines maintenance," says Elena Kompasenko, TNK-BP's Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment.