Gazprom Neft’s Arctic Gate oil export terminal (in the Gulf of Ob) shipped almost 4.5 mln t of oil from the moment it was launched in May 2016, says press center of Gazpromneft-Yamal.
The Novy Port oil is transported to the customers by Arctic tankers along the Northern Sea Route. With the tankers having made over 200 voyages Gazprom Neft has increased shipments from its Novoportovskoye (Novy Port) field 4 times.
The terminal allows for round-the-year shipment of hydrocarbons by sea routes. Apart from tankers deployed earlier, the Novy Port oil is currently transported by 5 new tankers of Arc7 class. Each tanker has a capacity of 42,000 t.
Vyborg Shipyard is now completing the construction of two multi-functional icebreaking ships, the Aleksndr Sannikov and the Andrei Vil’kitsky. Under the flag of Russia they will escort tankers in extreme ice conditions in the Gulf of Ob.
Gazprom Neft’s Arctic Gate oil export terminal (in the Gulf of Ob) was brought into full commercial operation in May 2016, allowing year-round oil shipments from its Novoportovskoye field.
The Arctic Gate offshore oil terminal is a unique facility, designed to operate under extreme natural and climatic conditions: temperatures in the region can drop below - 50°С, with ice reaching thicknesses of up to two metres. The facility is 80 metres high including an underwater part of 17 metres. With a two-tier protection facility, the terminal meets the most stringent environmental and safety standards.
All equipment at the terminal is fully automated, with a built-in hydraulic-impact protection system. A special system allows a tanker’s immediate disconnection from the terminal, while maintaining the hermetically-sealed integrity of the two components. “Zero-emissions” technology eliminates any risk of contaminants reaching the waters of the Ob Sea — an issue of overriding importance in protecting the ecology of the Arctic. In addition to which, the underwater pipeline connecting the terminal with the onshore storage facility (tank farm) is covered with an additional protective concrete casing.
The new grade of oil, “Novy Port”, has the same properties as the light oils, and lower sulphur content (around 0.1%) than both the Russian Urals blend and Brent. Besides, Novy Port oil is almost dry and clean, therefore it requires no additional treatment.