Ninian pipeline
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox pipeline
| name = Ninian Pipeline
| type = oil
| photo =
| caption =
| map =
| map_caption = Location of Ninian Pipeline
| country = United Kingdom
| state =
| province = East Shetland Basin
| coordinates =
| lat =
| long =
| direction =
| start = Ninian Central platform
| through = North Sea
| finish = Sullom Voe Terminal
| par =
| owner =
| partners = BG, BP, CNR International, Chevron Corporation, Eni, Lundin Petroleum, Nippon Oil, Total S.A.
| operator = BP
| technical_service_provider=
| contractors =
| construction=
| expected =
| est = 1978
| decom =
| length_km = 175
| discharge =
| discharge_bbl_d= 0.91
| diameter_in = 36
| compressor_stations_no=
| compressor_stations=
| pumping_stations_no=
| pumping_stations=
}}
The Ninian Pipeline is a {{convert|175|km|mi}} long crude oil pipeline, which runs from the Ninian Central platform in the northern North Sea to the Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland Islands of Scotland.
Specification
The Ninian pipeline was laid in July 1976. It is a X65 steel pipeline with an outside diameter of {{convert|36|in|mm|-1}} with a wall thickness of 0.75 and 0.875 inches.{{Cite book |last=Oilfield Publications Limited |title=The North Sea Platform Guide |publisher=Oilfield Publications Limited |year=1985 |pages=564}}
The pipeline has a corrosion coating and a 65 mm concrete buoyancy coating. There are 200 kg Sacrificial zinc (Impalloy) anodes at ever 12th joint, with a total mass of 150 tonnes. Buckle arrestors comprising steel sleeves 1-inch thick and 2 m long are located every 36th joint.
The pipeline has a maximum design capacity of 910,000 bbl/day and a maximum operating pressure of 1800 psia (124 barg).
Oil production
Ninian Central acted as an oil reception and export hub for a number of installations in the northern North Sea. Ninian Central receives, or received, oil from the following installations:{{Cite journal |last=Lindop |first=Paul H |date=1992 |title=The Ninian Pipeline System in the UK North Sea - Developments for the second generation of fields |journal=Energy Exploration & Exploitation |volume=10 |issue=4/5 |pages=247–9, 254}}
- Ninian Northern (24" oil pipeline)
- Ninian Southern (24" oil pipeline)
- Strathspey (8" and 10" oil pipelines)
- Heather (16" oil pipeline)
- Magnus (24" oil pipeline)
- Alwyn (12" oil pipeline)
- Lyell (12" and 8" oil pipeline)
From the Ninian Central oil processing facilities crude oil flows to the crude oil booster pumps, a metering skid and Main Oil Line (MOL) pumps.Ninian Central Process Flow Diagram After the MOL pumps the fluids were co-mingled with oil from the Strathspey, Ninian Northern, Heather and Magnus platforms.
Oil from the field is exported through the 36" pipeline to Sullom Voe (175 km).{{Cite book |last=Department of Trade and Industry |title=The Energy Report |publisher=HMSO |year=1994 |isbn=0115153802 |pages=144}}
The first oil was received at the Sullom Voe Terminal in December 1978.
Owner and operator
The pipeline was initially operated by BP on behalf of the partner companies.
As of June 2021 the pipeline was operated by EnQuest on behalf of the owners:{{Cite web |title=Ninian pipeline system |url=https://www.enquest.com/fileadmin/content/operations/ICOP_PDFs/Ninian_Pipeine_System___NPS__-_June_2021.pdf |access-date=10 November 2022}}
- EnQuest Heather Limited (Operator) 18.0511%
- CNR International (UK) Ltd 63.3271%
- Chevron North Sea Ltd 2.2601%
- Total E&P UK Limited 16.3616%
See also
External links
- [http://www.bpnsi.com/index.asp?id=7369643D312669643D313839 Ninian Pipeline System (BP website)]