The world´s longest underwater pipeline to link Norway with England

Salzgitter subsidiary Europipe shipping major share of pipes for the Ormen Lange gas line project

Europipe GmbH will be providing the major share of pipes for the world’s longest underwater pipeline transversing the North Sea. Europipe is a joint undertaking between the Salzgitter subsidiary Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG and Dillinger Hüttenwerke.

The 1,200 kilometer long pipeline will link the Ormen Lange gas field off the coast of central Norway with Nyhamna (Norway) and continue from there all the way to Easington in East England. The order was awarded by Statoil, the Norwegian gas and oil company. In the development phase the Norwegian industrial corporation Norsk Hydro will assume the role of project operator.

Europipe’s share of the underwater pipeline amounts to some 630,000 tons translating as a length of 835 kilometers. The large-diameter pipes with wall thicknesses of up to 35 mm will be produced at the two Europipe plants in Mühlheim and Dunkirk between April 2004 and December 2005. The pipeline is scheduled for completion in October 2006. The Ormen Lange gas field will come on stream as of October 2007.

Ormen Lange is the largest gas field that is currently being developed under the Norwegian continental plate. The field is situated around 100 kilometers northwest of the Norwegian coast at a water depth of between 800 and 1,100 meters.

This project marks the continuation of the many years of cooperation between Statoil and Europipe.