South Stream Transport B.V., the project owner of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, announced on November 30, 2017, that 30 % of construction has been completed.
The company said that the world's largest pipe laying vessel, Pioneering Spirit, completed pipe laying of around 555 kilometers (344 miles) for both of the 2 Turkish Stream lines.
The vessel, which moves at an average speed of 5 kilometers per day, completed this segment of the project in under 7 months.
«In total 555 kilometers of the pipeline was laid down, equally divided over the 2 lines. Construction of 30 % of the offshore pipeline section has been realized in less than 7 months,» the company announced.
It said the Pioneering Spirit will continue construction of the 2 pipelines until it reaches Turkish soil near the town of Kıyıköy, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Istanbul.
Gazprom previously announced that the 1st pipeline of the Turkish Stream entered the Turkish exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in November.
When complete, the Turkish Stream project will consist of 2 offshore pipelines with a total capacity to transport up to 31.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.
Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of State's Bureau of Energy Resources John McCarric said on November 29, 2017, the United States opposes Turkish Stream, which has attracted strong criticism from Turkey.
