{{Short description|Gas pipeline in Germany}} {{Infobox pipeline | name = OPAL pipeline | type = natural gas | photo = Dscf034382_OPAL_Gasleitung_Juchhö_Weißenborn.jpg | caption = OPAL pipeline near Weißenborn, Saxony | map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=5}} | country = Germany | state = | province = | coordinates = | lat = | long = | direction = north-south | start = Greifswald (Lubmin) | through = | finish = Olbernhau | par = German eastern border | owner = | partners = Wintershall Dea<br/>Gazprom | operator = OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG | technical_service_provider = | contractors = | construction = | est = 2011 | decom = | length = 470 | discharge = {{convert|35|e9m3}} per year | diameter_mm = 1400 | diameter_in = | compressor_stations_no = | compressor_stations = }} The '''OPAL''' (''Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung'') is a natural gas pipeline in Germany alongside the German eastern border. The OPAL pipeline is one of two projected pipelines connecting the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to the existing pipeline grid in Middle and Western Europe, the other one being the NEL pipeline.
==Route== thumb|Connecting pipelines The {{convert|470|km|mi|adj=on}} long pipeline runs from Lubmin near Greifswald to Olbernhau near German-Czech border.<ref name=ewi> {{Cite journal |last1 = Lochner |first1 = Stefan |last2 = Bothe |first2 = David |title = From Russia with Gas An analysis of the Nord Stream pipeline's impact on the European Gas Transmission System with the Tiger-Model |url = http://www.ewi.uni-koeln.de/fileadmin/user/WPs/ewiwp0702.pdf |journal = EWI Working Paper |volume = 7 |publisher = Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne |issue = 2 |date = September 2007 |accessdate = 2008-03-05 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} </ref> It connects the Nord Stream pipeline with the JAGAL (distributes gas from the Yamal-Europe pipeline), and the STEGAL (distributes gas from the Central-European Russian gas transit system (Transgas) via Czechia and Slovakia) pipelines in Germany. On the German-Czech border the pipeline is connected with the Gazela Pipeline, to connect gas export pipelines in Czechia.<ref name=praguepost1>{{cite news | publisher= The Prague Post | author= Markéta Hulpachová | url= http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/05/23/rwe-plans-new-pipeline.php | title= RWE plans new pipeline | date= 2007-05-23 | accessdate= 2007-11-24 | archive-date= 2007-06-01 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070601233357/http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/05/23/rwe-plans-new-pipeline.php | url-status= dead }}</ref>
==Technical features== The diameter of the pipeline is {{convert|1400|mm|in}} and it has an operating pressure up to {{convert|100|bar}}.<ref name=ewi/> The capacity of the pipeline is {{convert|35|e9m3|abbr=off}} per year of natural gas. The compressor station in Radeland, Brandeburg, is built by Siemens.<ref name=offshore170310>{{cite news | publisher= PennWell Corporation | work= Offshore | url= http://www.offshore-mag.com/index/article-display/8751778052/articles/offshore/pipeline-transportation/caspian-sea/2010/03/siemens-wins_baltic.html | title= Siemens wins Baltic pipeline compressor order | date= 2010-03-17 | accessdate= 2010-03-18 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110103010302/http://www.offshore-mag.com/index/article-display/8751778052/articles/offshore/pipeline-transportation/caspian-sea/2010/03/siemens-wins_baltic.html | archive-date= 2011-01-03 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
The pipeline cost around €1 billion. The construction was completed in 2011 and in August 2011 Nord Stream was connected with the OPAL pipeline.<ref name=dw260811> {{cite news | first = John | last = Blau | agency = Deutsche Welle | title = Nord Stream pipeline now connected to German link | url= http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15345814,00.html | date = 2011-08-26 | accessdate=2011-09-10}} </ref>
==Project company== The pipeline was constructed by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH, a subsidiary of Wingas.<ref name=wingas>{{cite press release |publisher = Wingas |url = http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1 |title = OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH applies for exemption from regulation. Project company plans Nord Stream pipeline links |date = 2008-07-25 |accessdate = 2008-08-09 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114410/http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1 |archive-date = 2011-07-19 |url-status = dead }}</ref> It is operated by OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG, owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom.
==Access by Gazprom== Polish state-run gas firm PGNiG and PGNiG Supply & Trading tried to restrict Gazprom's access to the pipeline. Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf lifted the restrictions <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/31072017/gazprom-gets-access-to-opal-pipeline/ |title = Gazprom gets access to OPAL pipeline|date = 2017-07-31}}</ref>
After the decision Gazprom increased the throughput to 72.5 million m<sup>3</sup>/d (26.462 billion/year).{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
==See also== {{Portal|Germany|Energy}} *NEL pipeline *Gazela Pipeline
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|OPAL (pipeline)}} * [http://www.opal-pipeline.com OPAL Pipeline - official Project website] * [http://www.opal-nel-transport.de/ Project company website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Opal Pipeline}} Category:Natural gas pipelines in Germany Category:Gazprom pipelines