View source for Baku–Supsa Pipeline

{{Infobox pipeline
| name        = Baku–Supsa Pipeline
| type        = oil
| photo       = 
| caption     = 
| map         = Baku pipelines.svg
| map_caption = Location of Baku–Supsa Pipeline
| country     = [[Azerbaijan]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Turkey]]
| coordinates = 
| operator    = [[BP]]
| partners    = [[State Oil Company of Azerbaijan]], [[Azerbaijan International Operating Company]]
| length_km   = 833
| discharge   = {{convert|145000|oilbbl}} per day
| direction   = east–west
| start       = [[Baku]] ([[Sangachal Terminal]]), [[Azerbaijan]]
| finish      = [[Supsa]] terminal in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| est         = 1999
| through     = [[Tbilisi]]
| par         = [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]] (partly)
}}

The '''Baku–Supsa Pipeline''' (also known as the '''Western Route Export Pipeline''' and '''Western Early Oil Pipeline''') is an {{convert|833|km|mi|adj=on}} long oil pipeline, which runs from the [[Sangachal Terminal]] near [[Baku]] to the [[Supsa]] terminal in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. It transports oil from the [[Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli]] field. The pipeline is operated by [[BP]].<ref>[http://www.bp.com/en_ge/bp-georgia/about-bp/bp-in-georgia/western-route-export-pipeline--wrep-.html BP site]</ref>

==History==
The preparations for the pipeline's construction started in 1994. On 8 March 1996, President of Azerbaijan [[Heydar Aliyev]] and President of Georgia [[Eduard Shevardnadze]] agreed on the establishment of Baku–Supsa pipeline. The trilateral contract was signed between [[Azerbaijan International Operating Company]], [[State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic|SOCAR]] and the Government of Georgia.<ref name=az3>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.azerbaijan.az/_Economy/_OilStrategy/oilStrategy_05_e.html
 | title = Transport routes of Azerbaijani oil (Baku-Novorossiysk, Baku-Supsa)
 | publisher = Azerbaijan Portal
 | accessdate = 2008-06-08
}}</ref> At the same year the lead contract of the project was awarded to [[Kværner]]. The pipeline was completed in 1998. On 17 April 1999, the inauguration ceremony of the Supsa Oil Terminal took place. The total costs of the construction of the pipeline and terminal were US$556 million.

The oil transportation by the pipeline was stopped on 21 October 2006 after abnormalities were revealed during the inspections on the pipeline.<ref name=az1>
{{cite news 
 | url = http://www.today.az/news/business/44358.html
 | title = Oil pumping by Baku-Supsa pipeline to resume in May
 | publisher = Today.Az
 | date = 2008-04-17
 | accessdate = 2008-06-08
}}</ref>  The large scale repair and replacement included replacement and re-routing of pipeline sections near [[Zestaponi]] in Georgia and [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kura River]] crossing in Azerbaijan. Also several defects of the Soviet times sections were repaired. In total, the repair works cost US$53&nbsp;million. The oil shipment restarted in June 2008.<ref name=az2>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.today.az/news/business/45482.html
 | title = Baku-Supsa pipeline to be launched after repair
 | publisher = Today.Az
 | date = 2008-06-05
 | accessdate = 2008-06-08
}}</ref>

After a major explosion and fire, which closed the [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]] on 6 August 2008,  the Baku–Supsa Pipeline was used to re-route Azeri oil deliveries.<ref name=upstream2>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article160568.ece
 | title = BP diverts Ceyhan crude as fire still burns
 | publisher = Upstream Today
 | date = 2008-08-07
 | accessdate = 2008-08-13
}}</ref>  On 12 August 2008, BP closed the pipeline temporarily for the safety reasons because of the [[2008 South Ossetia War|South Ossetia conflict]].<ref name=upstream1>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article160951.ece
 | title = BP shuts in Georgia links
 | publisher = Upstream Today
 | date = 2008-08-12
 | accessdate = 2008-08-13
}}</ref> In Summer of 2012 pipeline was down a month for a maintenance.<ref>
{{cite news
 | url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/06/16/uk-azerbaijan-pipeline-repair-idUKBRE85F0FF20120616
 | title = BP resumes oil flows via Baku-Supsa pipeline
 | publisher = Reuters
 | accessdate = 2012-06-16
}}</ref>

In July 2015 Russian troops demarcating the de facto border of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia, pushed forward the border line near the village of Orchosani<ref>[http://uk.businessinsider.com/georgia-accusing-russia-of-taking-territory-2015-7?r=US&IR=T In Business Insider, Orchosani is named as the village near the 'lost' section of pipeline]</ref> and thereby taking control over a short length of the pipeline.
<ref name=BBC>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33549462
 | title = EU warning over Russia 'land grab' in South Ossetia border row
 | publisher = BBC
 | date = 2015-07-16
 | accessdate = 2015-08-09
}}</ref>
Analysts suggest that this was a Russian reaction to dissuade Georgia from making further moves towards joining NATO. 
<ref>[http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews&#91;tt_news&#93;=44209&tx_ttnews&#91;backPid&#93;=7&cHash=19cd6195908c2080c70fe8816f81496b#.Vr4ur-ZqKQc Jamestown analysis of Russia's reasoning]</ref> While conceding that the pipeline might need to be diverted in the future, a Vice President of [[SOCAR]] reportedly denied any short term need for such concern.<ref>[http://en.apa.az/news/229769 APA reported: "“Even the routes of Baku-Supsa pipeline are not changed, this will not cause any problem for the pipeline”, SOCAR vice-president on investments and marketing Elshan Nasirov said."]</ref>

==Technical features==
[[Image:Georgian Pipelines.gif|thumb|Detailed route map of Baku-Supsa and [[Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline|Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan]] pipelines through [[2008 South Ossetia war|militarily-contested]] [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].]] 
Essentially, the Baku–Supsa pipeline is a refurbished Soviet era pipeline with several newly built sections. It has six pumping stations and two pressure reduction stations in western Georgia. The four storage tanks at the Supsa terminal have a total capacity of 160,000&nbsp;cubic metres.<ref name=hydrocarbons>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/supsa/
 | title = Supsa Terminal and Pipeline, Georgia / Azerbaijan
 | publisher = Hydrocarbons Technology
 | accessdate = 2008-06-08
}}</ref>  The capacity of the pipeline is {{convert|145000|oilbbl/d}} with proposed upgrades to between {{convert|300000|to|600000|oilbbl/d}}.

==See also==
{{Portal|Azerbaijan|Georgia (country)|Energy}}
*[[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]]
*[[Baku–Novorossiysk Pipeline]]
*[[Energy in Georgia (country)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Black Sea Energy}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9006672&contentId=7015099 Western Route Export Pipeline (BP website)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baku-Supsa Pipeline}}
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1999]]
[[Category:Oil pipelines in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Oil pipelines in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:BP buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Georgia (country) relations]]
[[Category:Georgia (country)–Turkey relations]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Turkey relations]]
[[Category:Black Sea energy]]