Bahrain’s national oil company Bapco has commissioned a new 350,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) pipeline (AB pipeline) between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

 

The 115-km, 24- to 30-inch-diameter pipeline, which replaces the existing 230,000-bpd pipeline, runs between Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq plant, the company's biggest oil processing and crude stabilisation facility, to Quarriyah and then offshore to Al Jazayir beach and finally to Sitra refinery in Bahrain.

 

Nearly 60 km of the pipeline will be onshore, while the remaining 45 km will be offshore, according to a statement from the company. 

 

Bapco said the key project milestone was achieved on October 3 by placing ‘oil in’ the new AB Pipeline. This followed successful and safe execution of mechanical completion and pre-commissioning activities over the past few weeks.

 

The pipeline has been built in line with directives issued by the Higher Committee for Natural Resources and Economic Security - led by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, it stated. 

 

The project was executed by an integrated team of contractors, led by Saudi Aramco and Bapco.  It is Bapco’s largest capital project successfully delivered in recent years. 

 

A symbolic ceremony attended by senior members of Bapco leadership was held to commemorate this achievement at the Bapco Refinery, said the statement.

 

Further work will continue over the coming weeks in stabilising the flow of crude oil along with completing associated commissioning activities, it added.  

 

Aramco and Bapco will shift the full supply of crude oil to the new pipeline in the months ahead, said the statement from Bahrain oil giant.  

 

“Bapco takes great pride in this key milestone which reflects the wise visions of the political leaderships in both sisterly kingdoms, and embodies the valued support and guidance of the Minister of Oil Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa for fostering this significant initiative which aims at bolstering the sustainable growth in the region,” it added. -- Tradearabia News Service