TurkStream Gas Pipeline Launched
The Presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, respectively, officially launched the TurkStream natural gas pipeline designed to ship Russian gas to Turkey and markets in southeastern Europe.TurkStream, which is laid in the Black Sea, is a link between the gas transmission systems of Russia and Turkey. The gas pipeline has two strings with a combined throughput capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters. The first string will deliver gas to Turkey, while the second string is intended for gas transit to southern and southeastern…
Bluestream Secures Annual IRM Contract of Total E&P Netherlands
Following a tendering process, Den Helder-based Bluestream has been awarded the 2017 Inspect Repair and Maintenance contract with Total E&P Nederland B.V. for 36 offshore sites. The contract is part of a long term frame agreement and is a continuation of the long-standing relationship between Bluestream and Total EP that has been in place since 2009. The work scope covers the subsea inspection of 29 platform structures and seven free standing domes on the North Sea Dutch Continental Shelf. Additionally an experienced Bluestream rope access team will inspect structures of the topsides which are at locations difficult to access with standard equipment.
Fick Appointed M.D. Gazprom EP International
Andrey Fick has been appointed Managing Director of Gazprom EP International B.V. by resolution of the company's General Shareholders Meeting. Andrey Fick was born in the Krasnodar Territory, Russia, in 1969. He graduated from the Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute in 1993, majoring in Engineering Technologies. He obtained his second university degree from the Kuban State Technological University in 2000, majoring in Cryo-Engineering. He has an MBA degree and a PhD degree in Engineering. He has been a member of Gazprom's team since 1996. 1999–2000: Compressor operator at a gas compressor station…
Russian Gas Flowing to Turkey as Normal
Russian gas supplies to Turkey are flowing normally, despite the row between the two countries after Turkey shot down a Russian air force jet, a source in Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Thursday. The source said gas was flowing at close to capacity via both main routes to Turkey: a pipeline via the Balkans and the Blue Stream route under the Black Sea. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk)
Turkey Spurred on to Wean Itself Off Russian Gas
Turkey is expected to step up efforts to diversify its supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the addition of new import terminals to lessen its reliance on gas from Russia, with floating terminals likely to be the speediest solution. Russia is Turkey's top gas supplier but their growing estrangement over the Syrian conflict is souring trade relations and threatening to reshape commodity flows. Russia imposed sanctions on some Turkish goods after Turkey shot down a Russian SU-24 bomber plane on Nov. 24, saying it had violated its airspace, while Russia says the plane never flew out of Syrian airspace.
FUGRO Wins Blue Stream Pipeline Inspection Contract
Fugro has been awarded a contract by Blue Stream Pipeline Company B.V. for the provision of survey support vessels and associated survey services to perform the 2015 external pipeline inspection for the offshore, shore approach, and dry section components of the Blue Stream Pipeline System. The two 24” gas export pipelines, E1 and W2, run from the Beregovaya gas compression station in Russia’s Arkhipo-Osipovka, 235 miles (378km) across the Black Sea, with a maximum water depth of approximately 2,150m, to the Durusu inlet terminal 40 miles (64km) from Samsun in Turkey. The in-field work in both areas has been completed and the reporting stage is now underway.
Ankara Stalling Russian Hopes on 'Turkish Stream' Gas Plan
Turkish concern about too much dependence on Russian energy and an upcoming election mean Russia's plans for a new gas pipeline to southeastern Europe are unlikely to advance as quickly as Moscow might like, Turkish energy officials said on Wednesday. Facing objections from the European Union, Russia in December abandoned its $40 billion South Stream project which would have passed under the Black Sea to Bulgaria and carry up to 63 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually to Europe. Instead, Russian gas exporter Gazprom said in January it planned to build an undersea gas pipeline with the same capacity to an as-yet unbuilt hub on the Turkish-Greek border by the end of 2016.
Gazprom Expanding Export Routes
The Gazprom's Board of Directors approved the Company’s strategy aimed at diversifying its export routes and increasing the Russian gas competitiveness. It was noted that gas supply alternatives as well as enhanced reliability and safety of supplies were of primary importance to make Gazprom’s products attractive for international markets over a long term. With a view to provide stable and well-balanced supplies of Russian gas to Europe as well as to mitigate the risks related to gas transit via third countries, Gazprom makes great efforts to expand the existing gas transmission routes and to build up the new ones.
Turkey Frets After Putin Picks it for Major Gas Role
Russia's offer of a centre stage role in its revised gas export plans to Turkey, after President Putin killed off the South Stream pipeline to southeast Europe, has been greeted with more muted applause in Ankara than Moscow might have hoped. Privately, Turkish energy officials say it important that the planned prestige gas link with Azerbaijan, in which Turkey has a stake, should not be jeopardised. Russian offers of cheaper gas were also treated with some caution. Visiting Turkey on Monday, Putin said Russia was ditching the Ukraine bypass South Stream pipeline, naming Turkey as its preferred partner for an alternative, undersea gas line to a hub on the Greek border.
Russia to Drop South Stream if no EU Okay
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia could not carry on with the South Stream gas pipeline project if the European Union was opposed to it. Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Putin cited reluctance by the European Commission to grant the green light to the project to supply southern Europe with gas via Bulgaria, bypassing Ukraine. "If Europe does not want to carry out (South Stream), then it will not be carried out," he said. Putin said Russia would reduce the gas price for Turkey by 6 percent, starting next year, and had agreed to supply Turkey with an additional 3 billion cubic metres.
Gazprom to Partner Turkey to Supply Gas
Moscow hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Taner Yildiz, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. The meeting addressed the issues of strategic partnership, in particular, the prospects for cooperation deepening in natural gas supplies from Russia to Turkey. The parties noted that Turkey was among top consumers of Russian 'blue fuel' for many years and Russia, in its turn, was a reliable provider of natural gas for the Turkish economy, thus covering nearly 60 per cent of the country's total consumption.
Russia, Turkey Discuss Price for Raising Gas Supplies
Russia has yet to agree a price with Turkey over its planned increase in gas supplies to the country, officials said on Wednesday, as Moscow tries to diversify supply to counteract a rift with the West. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said in April that Russia's Gazprom would boost capacity of the Blue Stream undersea gas pipeline to deliver another 3 billion cubic metres a year, to 19 billion cubic metres a year in total. No timetable for the increase was announced at the time. Yildiz said Ankara expected Russia to provide a discount for Russian gas supplies, including for the new volumes.
Plans to Boost Blue Stream’s Capacity to 19 bi cu mtrs
Moscow hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Taner Yildiz, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. It was agreed to load Blue Stream with Russian natural gas to full capacity as soon as possible in order to satisfy the growing demand of Turkish consumers. In this regard, it was pointed out that the volumes of Russian natural gas supply to Turkey would hit a historic record this year – 30 versus last year's 26.6 billion cubic meters. The meeting agreed to boost Blue Stream's capacity from 16 to 19 billion cubic meters a year and to carry out the relevant work.
Turkey presses for delay-free Algerian LNG
Turkey hopes to renew its liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts with Algeria but it must first ensure that deliveries are timely, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters. Turkey's contract to acquire 4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of LNG from Algeria's Sonatrach expires at the end of the year, and officials from both countries are in talks to renew it, Yildiz said. "We want to renew this contract, and they do as well. We have reached a basic understanding but we made it known that we do have a couple of wishes, the most important of which is that we want the deliveries made on time," he said.
Additional Russian Gas for Turkey Deal Likely
An additional 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas may flow from Russia to Turkey by end-2015 if a deal is reached on the price, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters late on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Turkey and Russia agreed to raise the capacity of the Blue Stream pipeline, which brings in Russian gas via the Black Sea, to 19 bcm annually from 16 bcm. Yildiz also said Kazakh gas may begin flowing to Turkey by the end of this year. (By Orhan Coskun & Ece Toksabay)
Russia's South Stream Pipeline Could Run to Turkey
Russia's controversial South Stream pipeline, which would transport gas via the Black Sea into Europe towards the end of the decade, received support from Turkey on Wednesday when Ankara said it may let the conduit pass through its territory. Turkey would consider granting access for the line if Moscow made such a request, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said. The subject is one of a series of issues including increased gas supply, gas price revisions and nuclear power that Turkey and Russia are set to take up in talks in Ankara next week, according to Turkish officials.
