Pipeline & Gas Journal’s 2009 International Pipeline Construction Report

Despite the challenges, Canada-based Pacific Rubiales plans to build an oil pipeline in Colombia with an initial capacity of 60,000 bpd. The 145-mile pipeline will carry crude from fields the company jointly operates with Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol in Rubiales, in the central province of Meta, to a pumping station in Monterrey, a municipality in the eastern province of Casnare.

The pipeline will form part of the country's current 4,300-mile pipeline network.

Pacific Rubiales' goal is to transport 100,000 bpd of crude by the end of 2009 and 150,000 bpd by the end of 2010, an amount equivalent to 25% of Colombia's total crude production. The $530 million pipeline is part of Pacific Rubiales' planned $1.6 billion investment in Colombia from 2008-2012.

In Trinidad, Technip has been awarded contracts by the National Gas Company of Trinidad to install two pipelines off the islands of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean. The contract covers subsea and land surveying services, environmental, project management and construction management for a large diameter pipeline that will connect the BHP Billiton facility in Block 2C off Trinidad to NGC’s existing pipeline network. The second pipeline will connect BHP Billiton’s facility to the south coast of Tobago to supply gas for a power generation plant under construction by NGC. The pipelines are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.

Trinidad energy officials says a proposal for the development of a natural gas pipeline between Port of Spain and Barbados remains on the table, even as it presses ahead with plans to spend $155 million dollars to construct a gas link with its sister island Tobago. The Tobago pipeline is expected to be up and running by the first quarter of 2011. However, Trinidad is currently awaiting word from Barbados on the proposal to extend the pipeline to service the needs of Bridgetown.

This region is also seeing a significant upturn in LNG projects. For example, Peru LNG is a natural gas export project that will support economic growth in some of Peru’s poorest regions and represents the largest foreign direct investment in the country’s history. Totaling $3.8 billion in costs, Peru LNG will be Latin America’s first LNG export project. It includes a liquefaction plant and a marine loading terminal at Pampa Melchorita on Peru's central coast, as well as a new 255-mile pipeline that will connect to an existing pipeline network east of the Andes. The project is expected to make Peru a net gas exporter after operations begin in 2010.
Moreover, new pipeline projects are under consideration. Kuntur Transportadora de Gas President Samuel Gomez, said development of the Gasoducto Andino del Sur (South Andean Pipeline) is under way and construction is expected to begin next year. The expected route of the $1.billion pipeline will start at the Camisea gas fields in Cusco, and then proceed south through the cities of Puno, Arequipa, Matarani, and Ilo, and possibly further on to Tacna.

The company projects that first gas will be available to customers in 2012 or 2013.