Kirkuk-Banias pipeline
Encyclopedia
Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline is a crude oil pipeline from the Kirkuk oil field
in Iraq
to the Syria
n port of Baniyas
. The pipeline is around 800 kilometres (497.1 mi) long and the capacity is 300 koilbbl/d. The pipeline was opened on 23 April 1952. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq
the pipeline was damaged by U.S. air-strikes and remained out of operation since then.
On 17 December 2007, Syria and Iraq agreed to rehabilitate the pipeline. The pipeline was to be reconstructed by Stroytransgaz
, a subsidiary of Gazprom
. However, Stroytransgaz failed to start the rehabilitation and the contract was nullified in April 2009. As the rehabilitation of the existing pipeline occurred to be more costly than building a new pipeline, in September 2010 Iraq and Syria agreed to build two new Kirkuk–Baniyas pipelines. One pipeline with capacity of 1.5 Moilbbl/d would carry heavier crude oil while another pipeline capacity of 1.25 Moilbbl/d would carry lighter crude oil.
Kirkuk Field
Kirkuk Field is an oilfield at Baba Gurgur near Kirkuk, Iraq. It was discovered in 1927. The Kirkuk oil field was brought into use by the Iraq Petroleum Company in 1934 and has ever since remained the basis of northern Iraqi oil production with over of proven remaining oil reserves as of 1998...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n port of Baniyas
Baniyas
Baniyas is a city of northwestern Syria, located at the foot of the hill of Qalaat el-Marqab , 55 km to the south of Latakia and 35 km north of Tartous , and a Catholic titular see under the Latin name of Balanea, which is presently vacant.It is famous for its orchards...
. The pipeline is around 800 kilometres (497.1 mi) long and the capacity is 300 koilbbl/d. The pipeline was opened on 23 April 1952. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
the pipeline was damaged by U.S. air-strikes and remained out of operation since then.
On 17 December 2007, Syria and Iraq agreed to rehabilitate the pipeline. The pipeline was to be reconstructed by Stroytransgaz
Stroytransgaz
OAO Stroytransgaz is a Russian engineering construction company in the field of oil and gas industry. The company was founded in 1990. It was originally a subsidiary of Gazprom, but now controlled by Gennady Timchenko though his Volga Resources SICAV SIF SA fund.-Operations:The company is involved...
, a subsidiary of Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
. However, Stroytransgaz failed to start the rehabilitation and the contract was nullified in April 2009. As the rehabilitation of the existing pipeline occurred to be more costly than building a new pipeline, in September 2010 Iraq and Syria agreed to build two new Kirkuk–Baniyas pipelines. One pipeline with capacity of 1.5 Moilbbl/d would carry heavier crude oil while another pipeline capacity of 1.25 Moilbbl/d would carry lighter crude oil.