OPAL (Pipeline)
The OPAL (Ostsee- Pipeline Link ) is a pipeline (DN 1400) for the transport of natural gas from Lubmin in northeastern Mecklenburg -Vorpommern Olbernhau in the south of Saxony. It connects the Baltic Sea pipeline with the Czech Republic. In Olbernhau (or Sidon ) is connected to the Trans gas pipeline, which comes from the Ukraine via the Czech Republic and to the STEGAL to Saxony and Thuringia, which in turn has links to MIDAL and JAGAL.
OPAL is one of three pipelines that connect in Germany, the Nord Stream pipeline to the existing European natural gas transmission system. The other two are the Hamburg leading NEL and ending in the north of Berlin still in planning NORDAL.
Shareholder and operator
Partner of OPAL are Wingas with 80 % and E.ON Ruhrgas with 20 % share. According to the marketing of natural gas and the operation of the pipeline is divided between the operating companies OPAL NEL Transport GmbH and E.ON Ruhrgas Nord Stream connecting pipeline mbH between the two companies.
The Federal Network Agency issued in February 2009 a broad exemption for operators of the network access and tariff regulation from commissioning. Approval is based on § 28a of the Energy Act, which allows, under certain conditions the regulatory authority ( here Czech Republic) exempt interconnectors between Germany and other countries of the regulation.
Indicators
The pipeline was made of 26,000 18-meter long, 22.3 mm thick and 15 -ton single pipes, which have a diameter of 1.4 meters, welded together and buried in a trench with a meter earth cover. The tubes were manufactured by EUROPIPE in Mülheim an der Ruhr.
The pressure in the pipeline is up to 100 bar. To compensate for the pressure drop was built halfway, near the hamlet of Radeland Baruth / Mark, a compressor station with a capacity of 30 megawatts. Here also crosses the JAGAL.
The annual capacity of the line is 35 billion cubic meters, which then one third of the current natural gas needs could be met from Germany.
The pipeline has a length of 470 kilometers, with 270 kilometers run through Brandenburg and per 100 kilometers through Mecklenburg -Vorpommern and Saxony. Specific technical challenges are the crossings of the rivers Peene, Spree and Elbe.
Planning process and construction
The rough route of the pipeline was initially set in a regional planning process (ROV ). This was checked whether the project with the objectives of spatial planning and land use planning (eg, in ecological terms ) is compatible. In the southern Brandenburg objections to a proposed compressor station in Gross Koris for laying the line and the compressor station have led to the south. Thus, the ROV in Brandenburg in March 2009 has been completed. The plan approval procedure followed on from the ROV, which laid down the pipeline route exactly. It ended with the zoning decision, the Land of Brandenburg for the end of 2009 (northern part) and early 2010 ( southern part ) has been completed.
Construction of the pipeline began in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and Saxony in October 2009, in Brandenburg in April 2010. Laying work for the pipes was completed in April 2011. On 13 July 2011, in the Radel Ander compressor station, the last individual tubes welded and the line subsequently undergone a complete inspection. Natural gas was transported from Russian Vyborg to Greifswald On August 6, first time in 2011.
Transport logistics
The large pipes were shipped from the factory in Mülheim with trains to the corresponding Entladebahnhöfen in East Germany. They consisted of up to 27 flat cars that were each loaded with three large pipes. At the final station, a mobile crane loaded the tubes individually on tractor-trailers. This brought them to places which apart were each about ten kilometers. This ensured that could be started quickly with the construction of the pipeline after the approval of the project.
Excavations
With the construction of the pipeline was the ability to make excavations across Western Pomerania for archaeologists. The State Agency for Culture and Preservation of Mecklenburg- Vorpommern examined the route and could discover settlements, cemeteries and hoards of all eras. The most important pieces are on display in a special exhibition at the Landesmuseum in Greifswald Pommerschens. This includes a very rare gold coin that dates from the period between the departure of the Germans and the colonization of the country by the Slavs. She was found near the village of Gustebin and is on the 6/7 Century dates. Furthermore, from the 1,200 year-old silver hoard from Anklam is issued.