GASCAC

Sinopec´s second largest enterprise in Brazil was the largest work extension in GASENE project: the Cacimbas-Catu Gas Pipeline (GASCAC), with 974 kilometers long. In operation since March 2010, GASCAC interconnects the Compression Station of Cacimbas, in Linhares/ES, to the Compression Stations of Pojuca/BA. The project went through 51 municipalities in the states of Espirito Santo and Bahia, generating over 12 thousand direct and indirect work-posts in the regions.

The gas pipeline was split into six fronts, in which Sinopec worked as EPC contractor (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Manager) besides being also responsible for the execution of Extension 1B (Jocec), which goes from São Mateus to Prado (164 Km). For the other work extensions, Sinopec counted on the support of its subcontractors: Galvão Engenharia (1A), Conduto (2A and 3B), Bueno Engenharia (2B) and Mendes Junior and Azevedo & Travassos Consortium (3A).

In order to enable GASCAC´s construction and assembly, Sinopec and its subcontractors invested in technologies which were little known in the country. For instance, the technique of providing pipeline negative buoyancy in flooded areas by means of pipe-sacks, instead of concrete jacketing, provided significant economic, logistic and environmental advantages at work front 1A. As for work fronts 2A and 3B, the automatic welding technique was used in order to increase productivity and also a Vacuum Lifter, a part which is coupled with an excavator which uses vacuum pressure to raise the pipe, making its transportation and manipulation easier. Thus, an operation which used to last up to half an hour, now takes less than ten minutes to be accomplished.