Geoingeniería participates in the designs and environmental studies for the longest pipeline in Colombia
Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia,
March 2011
In 2010 Geoingeniería was invited to participate in the project "Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Basic and detailed Engineering Designs for the Araguaney - Banadia Pipeline". This project involved 229 km of the project "Bicentennial Pipeline" which extends from the main pumping station in Monterrey (Eastern Plains) to the port of Coveñas in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, a total length of 960 km.
Construction of the pipeline is due to commence in April 2011, with a diameter of 42 inches the pipeline will be the largest in Colombia. This pipeline is strategic for the growth expectations in oil production and necessary for the evacuation of 600,000 bpd (almost 80% of the production in the country by January 2011) from the most important oil producing region in the country.
The EIA's objective was to obtain the environmental license for this stage of the project and was developed by a team of approximately 70 people mostly in field work; including archaeologists, biologists, forest engineers, environmental engineers and social experts, among others. The path defined for this part of the pipeline was designed to avoid sensitive ecosystems as much as possible and have as little social and economic impact on the communities around the pipeline route. The pipeline crosses 16 main rivers 40% running through flood areas.
Key project objectives included the detailed study of the epiphytic flora along the route of the pipeline, an economic evaluation of the impacts, greenhouse gases appraisal and the change in land use assessment. This economic approach was the first in Colombia for this type of project.
The impact on society is particularly significant, social studies took place in four different stages of the project, initially to explain the project, secondly to present the impacts and results, and the last two stages to reinforce certain sensitive topics for the community, such as the measures to minimise the impacts of the irrigation systems in rice crops (the pipeline will be underground). After the presentation of the study, the Ministry of Environment and Housing arranged a 10 day field visit to verify the technical information and validate the social participation guidelines implemented.
For further information contact Ivan Fernando Angel at Ivan.angel@geoingenieria.com