How was the carrier ‘guindado’ dismantled in SOTE to be able to discharge crude oil?

two cranes – of 150 tons each and with arms that moved up to 42 meters high- At dawn on February 24, they arrived in the sector of the Marker River (El Reventador), where the bridge collapsed two days before.

So maneuvers to stabilize and prevent rupture of the Transecuador gas pipeline system (SOTE) have begun and continue with subsequent drying, after the same February 22, Petroecuador decided to suspend the pumping of the pipeline that transports 320,000 barrels from Shushufindi, in Sucumbíos, to Balao, Esmeraldas.

Could pipeline paralysis lead to rising consumer prices or fuel shortages?

Goal The dismantling of the H-shaped support, which appeared to be “hanging” in the SOTE pipeline of Petroecuador, was to be carried out. This carrier, which was left hanging on the canal, without a floor due to the fall of the bridge and the sliding of the pedestal on which it stood, This caused pressure in the pipes, so the technicians felt that the first step in the emergency plan was to relieve the pressure.

During the morning and afternoon of this Friday, February 24, it was possible to observe technicians hired by the Ecuadorian Army Corps of Engineers using cranes to climb this metal structure that was in the air and begin to disarm it. According to what is known, the technicians from Petroecuador and the Army Corps of Engineering decided to do the dismantling first, because there was a danger that if they released the oil first, the resistance of the pipeline would be weaker and it would burst.

Petroecuador has a line maintenance contract with the Corps of Engineers, so this union also participates in the process.

Intervention was carried out on the yellow 24-inch SOTE pipeline. Next to it are three more channels. One is 20 inches and green in color, belonging to the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP), and the third is a 6 inches, multi-channel Shushufindi Quito. These last two are deformed and at least the polyduct must be replaced.

There is another 24-inch pipe, also OCP green, in the same location, but it was not operational.

After the SOTE pressure was removed, the necessary assessments were made to continue discharging the crude oil contained in this pipe. However, the option was also considered that if the pipeline has not suffered ruptures, cracks or deformations, a new support can be simply built along the mountain and thus resume pumping as soon as possible.

Petroecuador began to shut down wells after the pipeline shutdown. The last export came out on Wednesday

On On Friday at 5:00 p.m., the crude oil discharge process began, which has drain valves for this purpose. Additionally, the possibility of making a variant towards the mountain approx. 400 or 500 meters.

Director of Petroecuador, María Elisa Soledispa, reported that the Shushufindi Quito pipeline had already been drained and 8,500 gallons of gasoline had been recalled. OCP reported the same. In this way, as far as these two pipelines are concerned, if they were to burst, they would not produce any kind of environmental pollution.

According to the new official, the process to resume pumping it would take at least seven days. Meanwhile, this Friday the company has already announced that the shutdown of oil wells has begun, as a tanker has been cornered in the Amazon. Meanwhile, crude oil stored in Balao will be used for domestic consumption in the country, so a shortage is ruled out. The last export of crude oil took place last Wednesday. Now sales have stopped, but deliveries have been delayed when pumping returns to normal.