Pressure in Nord Stream 2 abated: Could lessen security risk
Russian gas company Gazprom is reducing gas flow in the intact Nord Stream 2 pipeline in efforts to lower pressure, writes the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) on Twitter.
The agency has received a notice from Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the pipeline, in which Gazprom owns a controlling stake.
Last week, several ruptures were discovered on Nord Stream 1 and 2, each of which consists of two pipelines, with damage sustained on all except one.
Gas is being siphoned out of the Nord Stream 2 B pipeline.
According to the agency, lowering the pressure is a good idea as long as the operator assesses that the pipeline can remain stable even as the pressure drops.
Having natural gas exposed to very high pressure could entail a security risk.
On the other hand, it isn’t possible to extract all gas from the pipeline since the gas helps stabilize it, according to the DEA.
The Nord Stream 2 B pipeline stretches from Ust-Luga in Russia to Lubmin in Germany, at a depth of 70 to 90 meters in the Baltic.
Nord Stream AG cooperating with investigation into leaks
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