Last night marked a significant milestone in the Vilnius-Kaunas Main Gas Pipeline Reconstruction Project, as MT Group successfully completed all tie-ins.
As the General contractor, MT Group takes pride in delivering within an extremely tight timeline. Commencing in February 2023, this ambitious project was initially scheduled for completion by year-end. This is an exceptionally short timeframe for such a complex strategic energy project, but seeing the progress, we are confident that we will meet the deadline.
In an impressive display of efficiency for the DN700 pipeline reconstruction project, MT Group supplied the whole DN700 pipe, which is 16,9 km, along with all essential fittings and technological equipment. Our skilled team managed the welding of 14,7 km section and conducted testing and drying activities for the 16,9 km pipeline length, including two valve stations.
Overall, MT Group executed 12 hydraulic and 1 pneumatic test, along with all necessary drying activities. Notably, 13,4 km out of the 14,7 km of the new pipeline was constructed in parallel within a few meters of the existing pipeline under pressure. Additionally, a 1,3 km section had to be lowered into the same axis as the existing pipeline during a specific connection window. The challenges encountered by our team underscore their remarkable capacity for handling pressure.
Connecting the newly built 17 km of pipeline to the existing high-pressure pipeline system has required 9 pipe sections, including two valve stations at different locations. The MT Group team had only 14,5-day window for this task. Within this short timeframe, our team accomplished 37 Golden welds, including disassembling a 1,3 km section of the old pipe and installing a new pipe segment. This involved welding together 13 connection welds, conducting testing, and completing the drying process for the new pipe section, which was designed and installed in the same axis as the old one.
What’s even more impressive is that the MT Group team completed this demanding work in just 12 days, surpassing the initially estimated 14,5-day timeline.
The project is undertaken on behalf of Amber Grid.