Work on laying a crude oil pipeline from Chennai port to the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s (CPCL) refinery in Manali is nearing completion.
The line has been completely connected from Kasimedu to the refinery. Presently, connectivity to the port side is being taken up and the trial of the crude carrier is likely to be taken up shortly.
Sources in the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), which has taken up the work on contract basis, said that after conduct of trial, the Oil Industry Safety Directorate would inspect the pipeline and then Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation would have to grant approval. After that, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board would have to grant Consent To Operate.
This new line being laid at an estimated cost of about ₹250 crore would replace the existing pipeline that is over 48 years old and runs through congested north Chennai. It would serve as the backbone for maintaining the operations at the 10.5 million-tonne Manali refinery. The new pipeline would have a bigger diameter (42 inch), meaning it can allow more crude to run through in lesser time. This would help save on demurrage charges at the port. This facility has added safety features, particularly the globally followed SCADA technology that would prevent leaks. All along the pipeline, an optical fibre cable has been laid so as to provide connectivity between the port and the refinery.
The company found it very difficult to dig through the black marine soil that is found between R. K. Nagar and Mastan Nagar. “Our drilling machines took time to get through this soil, which is sticky and hard in nature,” explained an official.
