Murphy Starts Next Phase Of Easington Pipeline

Murphy Pipelines Division has been awarded a new contract by National Grid, to cover the next phase of a multi million pound programme to transport gas from the Norwegian-owned Orman Lange North Sea gas field. The gas field enters the new gas import terminal at Easington, north of the Humber via the world’s longest subsea pipeline Langeled, into the National Transmission System.

The multi million pound Easington to Paull high pressure underground pipeline to be installed by Murphy is a 24 kilometre, 1200 mm diameter, carbon steel pipeline between the above ground installations at Easington on the coast and Paull, on the banks of the river Humber in East Yorkshire. This follows Murphy’s recent completion of the Easington to Ganstead pipeline, a similar contract, some 32 kilometres in length.

The project comprises the construction of the pipeline, together with the associated above ground modifications and connections at both end locations.  Murphy will negotiate more than a dozen roads and many deep river/ditch crossings using auger bore techniques along the 24 km length. Pipeline construction is scheduled to commence in April 2010 and commissioning is programmed for September 2010, to meet the ‘gas on’ date of 1st October 2010 when the pipeline will operate up to a Maximum Operating Pressure of 85 barg.  

Chris Hehir, Senior Project Manager of National Grid, comments:

"The gas pipeline from Easington to Paull and proposed extension to the AGI will play a key role in meeting Britain’s gas needs. Britain benefits from diverse sources of gas. As North Sea gas declines, increasing supplies are coming from Europe via North Sea pipelines and from LNG (liquefied natural gas), arriving at coastal terminals. Pipelines running from east to west will play an important part in transporting gas across the country and ensuring it reaches homes and businesses."