Myanmar-China Oil and Gas Pipeline Project

Abstract

To meet the increasing energy demand, oil and gas pipelines from Myanmar to China have been planned since 2003. After 10 years’ hard work, Myanmar-China Oil and Gas Pipeline Project had been completed by the end of 2013. The project comprises one gas pipeline and one oil pipeline. The gas pipeline with a diameter of 1016 mm and a total length of 1727 km runs through great mountain areas in the southwest of China. The oil pipeline with a diameter of 813 mm and the first phase length of 606 km is laid parallel to the gas pipeline. The challenges of this project are long distant parallel large pipelines, undulant topography with high different elevation, complicated geological condition, vulnerable ecology, etc. This paper presents some design and construction issues concerned in the project, including the route selection in mountain areas, type of crossings and its design, type of ground movements and its design, special construction methods in these areas, etc. New technologies such as GIS-based route optimization, strain-based design, longspan suspension bridges, tunnels through mountains, multiple pipelines laid in narrow or steep areas and monitoring system for seismic and fault movement had been applied to conquer the challenges.