Correspondent
Ace Energy Infrastructure Completes Breakthrough in Barauni-Guwahati Gas Pipeline Project.
Microtunnelling, also known as pipe jacking, is a trenchless technique used to construct small diameter tunnels, particularly when the tunnel needs to pass under railways, rivers, and other obstacles. In this method, concrete pipes are installed by pushing or jacking them into place from a launching shaft. The MTBM is a special boring machine or shield that follows the path of the tunnel while simultaneously boring it.
The Barauni-Guwahati natural gas pipeline project is being executed by GAIL (India), a state-run company. The microtunnelling, with a diameter of 1,600 millimeters, was completed over a length of 1,200 meters at a depth of 11-12 meters under the river bed. The construction faced challenges due to extremely hard and abrasive boulders and the presence of a flooded river in Bhutan's upper reaches over the past three months.
With the tunnelling phase completed, the next step is to install a 24-inch carbon steel pipeline inside the tunnel. This pipeline will be used to transport natural gas and will serve as the final link in a 2,300-kilometer network of gas pipelines connecting Barauni to Guwahati and further to Numaligarh. This extensive network will cross major rivers such as Subansiri and Brahmaputra, facilitating the distribution of natural gas.
The Barauni-Guwahati pipeline is an extension of the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL), commonly known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga. This pipeline aims to connect previously unconnected Eastern states. It spans 726 kilometers from Barauni in Bihar to Guwahati in Assam, passing through West Bengal and encompassing 20 districts in these states.
Moreover, the JHBDPL will also be connected to the North-East Gas grid (NEGG), benefiting eight states in Northeastern India in a phased manner. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has authorized Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited, a joint venture involving Indian Oil Corp, Oil India Ltd, Numaligarh Refineries Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, and GAIL, for the development of NEGG. The NEGG Project, covering 1,656 kilometers, is currently 70 percent complete, and the entire project is scheduled for completion by 31 March 2024.