The Role of the Two "Dragons" in the East from the Outer Borders--West Pipeline Project of the Key Works of the "Tenth Five-year Plan"
Another major national key project, the Western Crude and Refined Oil Pipeline, is currently under construction. Stretching nearly 1,000 kilometers parallel to the West-East Gas Pipeline, this ambitious project spans a total of 1,858 kilometers, with an investment of approximately 14.6 billion RMB from Xinjiang to Gansu. It is a critical initiative by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) aimed at supporting the country's western development strategy. By the end of this year, the refined oil pipeline will be ready for operation, while the crude oil pipeline is expected to be completed in August next year. Once fully operational, the pipelines will play a vital role in enhancing national energy security, promoting the global expansion of Chinese oil companies, and alleviating transportation pressure on railways in the western region, while also boosting economic growth in Xinjiang.
The project starts in Urumqi, Xinjiang, and ends in Lanzhou, Gansu. On November 15, a reporter visited the first station of the Wangjiagou Refined Oil Pipeline, located 35 kilometers northwest of Urumqi. The station, which has largely been completed, features a 140,000-square-meter area with eight storage tanks—five new ones and three existing ones from the Wangjiagou oil depot. The five new tanks have capacities of 30,000 cubic meters each, except one that holds 20,000 cubic meters. The three older tanks hold 20,000 cubic meters each, giving the station a total reserve capacity of 200,000 cubic meters. The facility includes pump zones, valve areas, heating zones, tank areas, control rooms, and a substation.
Inside the pump zone, four large German-made oil pumps were already installed on reinforced concrete bases, awaiting activation. From the top of a five-story storage tank, the reporter observed the surrounding landscape: to the east was the Wangjiagou oil depot, to the west was a Sino-Hong Kong joint venture depot, to the south was a dedicated railway line, and to the north was a highway leading to Xinjiang’s largest steel plant. The location was chosen for safety reasons, as it is elevated and surrounded by open land, minimizing risks.
Xu Chunjiang, director of the Xinjiang Administration Department of CNPC, explained that the site was selected to leverage existing CNPC infrastructure in Urumqi, reducing costs. The Wangjiagou depot had been operating safely for years, making it an ideal base for the new station. Local resources such as land, water, electricity, and rail access were all available, further optimizing the project’s efficiency.
As the longest pipeline in China, the Western Pipeline faces extreme challenges due to the complex terrain across Xinjiang and Gansu, including deserts, swamps, high-altitude regions, and protected natural reserves. Despite these difficulties, the project has made remarkable progress. As of November 18, 98% of the refined oil pipeline had been completed, and 78% of the crude oil pipeline was done. This pace is rare in China’s pipeline construction history. Innovative techniques like directional drilling and earth pressure balance jacking were used to cross sensitive areas without disrupting local communities or ecosystems. For example, the DD-990 drilling rig was employed to cross Renshou Mountain, preserving the ecological environment. These efforts highlight the project’s commitment to both efficiency and environmental protection.
Currently, the refined oil pipeline is undergoing pressure tests and water flushing, while the construction of stations and valve rooms continues at a fast pace. All teams are working hard to meet the deadline for the refined oil pipeline to go into production by the end of the year. Once completed, the project will transport 10 million tons of refined oil and 20 million tons of crude oil annually. This will significantly reduce the need for railway transportation, saving about 150,000 light oil trucks and 300,000 heavy oil tank cars per year, easing the burden on western rail networks.
Joint With Metric Thread,Female Threaded End Joint,Hydraulic Flared Rubber Fitting,Integrated Hydraulic Flange Hose Assembly Joint
JiangSu Speeder heavy machinery Co., LTD , https://www.speederjoint.com