The Ninian pipeline was laid in July 1976. It is a X65 steel pipeline with an outside diameter of 36 inches (910 mm) with a wall thickness of 0.75 and 0.875 inches.[1]
The pipeline has a corrosion coating and a 65 mm concrete buoyancy coating. There are 200 kg Sacrificial zinc (Impalloy) anodes at ever 12th joint, with a total mass of 150 tonnes. Buckle arrestors comprising steel sleeves 1-inch thick and 2 m long are located every 36th joint.[1]
The pipeline has a maximum design capacity of 910,000 bbl/day and a maximum operating pressure of 1800 psia (124 barg).[1]
Oil production
Ninian Central acted as an oil reception and export hub for a number of installations in the northern North Sea. Ninian Central receives, or received, oil from the following installations:[2]
From the Ninian Central oil processing facilities crude oil flows to the crude oil booster pumps, a metering skid and Main Oil Line (MOL) pumps.[3] After the MOL pumps the fluids were co-mingled with oil from the Strathspey, Ninian Northern, Heather and Magnus platforms.
Oil from the field is exported through the 36" pipeline to Sullom Voe (175 km).[4]
The first oil was received at the Sullom Voe Terminal in December 1978.
Owner and operator
The pipeline was initially operated by BP on behalf of the partner companies.[4]
As of June 2021 the pipeline was operated by EnQuest on behalf of the owners:[5]
^ abcOilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Oilfield Publications Limited. p. 564.
^Lindop, Paul H (1992). "The Ninian Pipeline System in the UK North Sea - Developments for the second generation of fields". Energy Exploration & Exploitation. 10 (4/5): 247–9, 254.