„The project was aimed at replacing the entire flexible oil transfer system between oil tankers and the oil depot of the Petromidia refinery. The mandatory capital maintenance works keep the sea terminal in optimum safety and performance conditions. Moreover, the investment also ensures a high level of marine environmental safety. We invest around USD 200 thousand every two years, USD 1.4 million every four years, and approx. USD 3 million every three years in such works", said Ioan Taus, general manager of Midia Marine Terminal.
The replacement of the flexible hose system was carried out at sea by Midia Marine Terminal and involved 6 boats and 20 divers working 24/7 for 16 days. The project was implemented with the participation of Rominserv, KMG International’s general contractor, in what regards the supply of hoses and the onshore works.
The flexible hose system of the Black Sea offshore oil terminal is made up of two rows of metal-reinforced rubber hoses with a weight between 3.5 and 5 tonnes, provided with a double casing specially designed for the protection of marine environments in case of hose failure. This system is made up by two rows of floating hoses, each approximately 270 meters long, and two rows of 19-bar proof underwater hoses, built to international standards, but also taking into account the hydrological and weather conditions in the area where it is laid, i.e. 9 km East from the Midia Navodari. The service period of such hoses is 2 years for high-stress floating hoses, 4 years for underwater hoses and 8 years for others transfer hoses. The hose assembly of the Midia offshore oil terminal is worth around USD 3 million.
Midia Marine Terminal increased its maritime fleet in 2015 and is currently operating 3 tugboats – 70 tbp Tirreno under Italian flag, for assistance in manoeuvring 150,000 tdw oil tankers; 50 tbp Bucuresti and Astana tugboats, both under Romanian flag, for hose handling, maintenance and offshore works, diving support, but also assistance for manoeuvring ships in the Midia port. The MMT fleet also includes a 9.5 meter long, 500 HP pilot ship and two working motorboats.
More than 23 million tonnes were unloaded and 276 have been safely processed at the Black Sea offshore oil terminal between the beginning of 2009 and September 2015. The terminal withstood severe cold to violent storms with waves in excess of 8 metres without any damage, and is designed to operate for at least 25 years.
The terminal currently ensures the oil supply needs of the Petromidia refinery – the largest Romanian refinery, which in 2015 processed a record 5 million tonnes of crude since its commissioning in 1979, thus reaching its maximum operational capacity.
With a designed transfer capacity of 24 million tonnes a year, the oil terminal may accommodate ships of up to 160,000 tdw*. The supply route through the terminal is 33 km shorter than the Constanta port route and secures oil supply cost cuts of approx. 7 USD ton. Thus, the USD 100 million investment in the oil terminal was amortized in just 5 years from commissioning.
Midia Marine Terminal provides access for KazMunayGas to the geographical area that connects the Caspian Sea (Kazakhstan, Georgia) and the Black Sea (Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria) regions to Western Europe (France and Spain). Europe-wide, KMG International owns more than 1000 filling stations in Romania, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, France, Spain, Georgia. The Group operates two refineries – Petromidia Navodari and Vega Ploiesti.
