Post by Sulzer Services

What does it take to bring a 425 km pipeline back from the dead? The Oleoducto Trasandino, a critical trans-Andean crude oil pipeline, had been dormant for over 15 years. After being suspended in 2006, it was left to corrode in the high-altitude Andes, remaining silent even as the region's energy needs increased. Reactivating it wasn't just a maintenance job. It was a multi-year commitment requiring full pipeline cleaning, a complete overhaul of all 15 pumps, and precision field operations in one of the most remote and demanding environments on the planet. Sulzer's team got to work in 2021 — starting with field services to clear years of sediment buildup, then moving into full pump overhauls at our Ezeiza service center in Argentina.  By June 2023, the pipeline resumed operations.  By mid-2024, it was moving 12,000 m³ of crude oil per day, with capacity growing as Vaca Muerta oil field’s production continues to ramp up.  The result: a critical energy corridor between Argentina and Chile, restored and running — and a 10-year concession extension through 2027 signaling confidence in what comes next.    When equipment has been written off, we see the potential to bring it back. #PumpServices #EnergyInfrastructure #LatinAmerica #Sulzer #PipelineReliability #VacaMuerta