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Information Paris, February 17 2005 Press release 500,000 m3 of nitrogen for 500-kilometer underwater pipeline linking Libya and Sicily
To this end, more than 500 km of 32-inch underwater gas line have been laid by the SAIPEM company to transport this gas across the Mediterranean, at depths exceeding 1000 meters in places. For this project, Air Liquide Italy supplied approximately 500,000 cubic meters of nitrogen to the Weatherford company, which specialized in services for the petroleum industry, and was contracted by SAIPEM to meet a number of industrial needs at the Gela site. These large quantities of nitrogen are used in purging and inerting operations, which are conducted to ensure safety before a gas line is commissioned. To prevent explosions, it is essential that all oxygen in the pipeline be completely evacuated before any natural gas in injected. Teams from Air Liquide Italy mobilized their resources to produce liquid nitrogen at the Priolo site in Sicily, then transport a continuous supply to the Gela site, approx. 110 km away, in cryogenic tank trucks at a controlled temperature of -196oC. After arrival, the liquid nitrogen was vaporized using heat exchangers installed at the SAIPEM site (project owner), then injected into the pipeline. As explained by Francois Darchis, a Member of the Executive Committee of Air Liquide "We are very pleased to have been able to address the special needs of this project, both in terms of high volumes and rapid response. This work helped contribute to the optimal safety conditions that were required before the pipeline could be put into operation. Our teams demonstrated that they can react quickly, accompanying clients throughout a project, even when exceptional operations are involved". Partner to the petrochemical and refining industry at numerous industrial basins worldwide, Air Liquide has been present in Sicily since 1956, conducting industrial activities with 170 employees with sales of 92,6 million euros in 2003. Air Liquide Italy employs a total of approximately 1,800 persons, with a turnover of 587,8 million in 2003. ****************** Present in more than 70 countries, Air Liquide supplies industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly evolving technologies. These solutions, which reflect Air Liquide's commitment to sustainable development, help protect lives and enable our customers to manufacture many indispensable everyday products. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide now has more than 35.000 employees. The Group has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders, built on confidence and transparency, and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2004 totaled, 9,376 million Euros, of which sales outside France accounted for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and EuroStoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073). For further information, please contact:
www.airliquide.gr |
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