On Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, the Essen‐based company will start the construction of a 67‐km‐long natural gas pipeline from Sannerz (Hesse) to Rimpar (Bavaria). All in all, Open Grid Europe is going to invest some 130 mio. € to provide additional transport capacities from October on.
The line "Sannerz‐Rimpar" will run mostly as a so‐called "loop" parallel to the existing "Rimpar‐Schlüchtern" line and serve, inter alia, to supply regional consumers (municipal utilities, industrial facilities) in Bavaria and Hesse.
"The line is an important link in the European natural gas transport network. With the additional north‐south capacities, we overcome network bottlenecks and also create additional transport capacity in the directions of Austria, Italy and France", emphasizes Heinz Watzka, Manager Technology at Open Grid Europe.
The expansion is a part of the measures determined by the so‐called open season procedure. A procedure performed in accordance with European regulations in order to enable an efficient, market‐driven, environmentally sound and also consumer‐friendly expansion of the gas grid.
Background: Data and Facts
The length of the new natural gas pipeline between the valve station Sannerz in the Hessian Main‐Kinzig district and the compressor station Rimpar near Würzburg will be 67 kilometres (10 km through Hesse / 57 km through Bavaria).
1.5 million m³ per hour will be transported through the line. Extrapolated to one year, the amount would suffice to supply almost five million households for one year with natural gas.
28,500 tons of steel are going be used for the line from Sannerz to Rimpar. All in all, about 3800 pipes are to be laid, each approximately one metre in diameter and about 18 metres in length, weighing about 7.5 tons. The steel pipes will be welded to form strands and laid at least one metre beneath the surface of the earth. They are designed for an operating pressure of up to 100 bars, and protected against corrosion by a plastic sheath.