CPP advances with complex river-crossing pipeline project in China

China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP) is constructing the Yangtze River crossing for the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline in China. Located 70 metres beneath the Yangtze River, this project is the world’s most complex river-crossing pipeline installation due to its length, depth, and challenging conditions.

CPP uses its proprietary CPP900 fully automatic welding equipment to lay three natural gas pipelines, each with a diameter of 56 inches and a wall thickness of 32.1 millimetres, made from X80M high-grade steel, in a “T” shape within a shield tunnel. The tunnel has an internal diameter of 6.8 metres and stretches horizontally for 10,226 metres. This marks the first use of fully automatic welding and foam concrete filling technology in a shield tunnel in China.

For this project, CPP has introduced innovations such as gantry cranes for tunnel use, a ground-based assembly line system, and high-precision pipe bending machines. Over 50 specialised pieces of equipment have been custom-made. Having completed the pipeline welding inside the tunnel, the team is now progressing with foam concrete filling and pipeline installation within the vertical shaft. The project is expected to be production-ready by the end of November this year. Upon completion, this will be the world’s longest, deepest, and most complex river-crossing shield tunnel pipeline installation, advancing technology and setting a benchmark for future projects.

More about CPP – China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd.