PERN services reach damage on pipeline – no signs of third party action

PERN services have reached the site of the damage on the pipeline. From the first findings and from the manner of deformation of the trunk pipeline, it follows that there are no signs of third-party interference at this point. The reclamation of the site has begun, the company reported on Wednesday evening.

As PERN conveyed in a communiqué, after removing most of the debris from the area near the crude oil pipeline damaged yesterday, the company’s technical services have located the site of the spill. “From the first findings and from the manner in which the pipeline was deformed, it appears that at this point there are no signs of third-party interference,” – the information noted.

At the same time, PERN stipulated that detailed analyses are underway “to determine the cause of the incident and to repair the trunk line so that the pumping of the raw material can start as soon as possible”.

“In addition to the activities related to the repair of the western section, which supplies crude oil to Germany, PERN has started intensive work related to the reclamation of the area in order to restore it to its original state as soon as possible,” – the company conveyed. As explained in the communiqué, the remediation activities are being carried out by employees of PERN’s environmental department and a specialised external company carrying out the operator’s contract.

On Wednesday morning, PERN reported that on Tuesday late in the evening the company’s automation systems “detected a leak in the +Przyźń+ pipeline on one of the two lines of the western section of the pipeline – about 70 km from Płock”. According to PERN, the causes of the incident are not yet known. The company noted that the other line of the oil pipeline “is operating without any changes”.

In a further communication, PERN stressed that it “is in constant contact with German partners receiving crude through the +Friendship+ pipeline, in connection with the unsealing of one of the lines of the western mainline, through which crude oil reaches German customers”. “Deliveries are taking place taking into account the technical possibilities”. – conveyed the company.

At the same time, PERN assured that “Polish refineries are receiving oil as nominated”. “The situation also has no impact on access to fuel for Polish drivers,” it stressed.

According to the Kujawsko-Pomorskie State Fire Service, the leakage of the ‘Przyjaźń’ oil pipeline on the western section occurred in the area of the village of Żurawice in the municipality of Boniewo – previously reported to be the village of Łania in the municipality of Chodecz. The leak occurred in a cornfield, in a depression in the area, in a place away from buildings and traffic routes.

Since the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, several units of the state and voluntary fire brigades as well as PERN’s company fire brigade have been involved in removing the consequences of the pipeline leak and securing the site, including pumping out the oil from the resulting spill.

According to PERN, the western section of the Druzhba pipeline connects the Raw Material Depot in Miszewko Strzałkowskie with the MVL tank park located in Schwedt. “This part of the trunk pipeline flows crude for two German refineries: PCK Raffinerie GmbH Schwedt and Total RaffinerieMitteldeutschland GmbH in Spergau,” – according to the company.

According to PERN, the western section of the Druzhba pipeline running through Poland has a capacity of 27 million tonnes of crude oil per year.

The company also manages the eastern section of the ‘Friendship’ pipeline, which connects its reservoir depot in Adamowo with the raw material depot in Miszewek Strzałkowski near Płock in the Mazovian Voivodeship – this section has a capacity of 50 million tonnes of crude oil per year. PERN also owns the Pomeranian pipeline, which connects the handling base in Gdansk with the raw material base in Miszewko Strzałkowskie near Płock. Thanks to this route, according to the company, the transport of crude from the northern direction, i.e. from sea deliveries via Naftoport in Gdansk, is secured.

“The Pomeranian section allows PERN’s customers to diversify both the source of supply – an alternative or supplement to land deliveries – and the grades of crude checked for processing at the refinery,” – PERN informs.

The company emphasises that the Pomeranian pipeline “can be used to transport crude in two directions”, with “on the Gdańsk-Płock route its capacity is about 30 million tonnes of crude per year, while in the opposite direction the pipeline has a capacity of about 27 million tonnes per year”.

Following the failure of one of the two lines of the Druzhba pipeline on the western section, PERN stressed in a communiqué issued on Wednesday morning that the remaining elements of the company’s infrastructure, including the Pomeranian section, through which crude oil arriving by tankers to Poland and then also to Germany is pumped, is “operating in standard mode”.

PERN is a state-owned entity strategic to Poland’s energy security, managing, among other things, pipelines pumping crude oil to Orlen Group’s refineries in Plock and Gdansk, also to two refineries in Germany, and having crude and fuel storage bases in the country.

source: PortalMorski.pl