Rerouting of the Südwestfalen pipeline in Schwerte-Ergste

The re-rerouting (i.e. re-laying) of the natural gas pipeline in Schwerte-Ergste belonging to network operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) is almost complete. The pressure test on the main line, which is an important milestone, was successfully completed, meaning that the tie-in to the existing pipeline no. 7 can go ahead next week.

This will be done in two stages:

In the first half of the week, the pipeline will be tied into the existing pipeline near the Lethmaterstraße junction with Kirchstraße and between Lindenufer and the railway line towards Dortmund-Holzen.

In the second half of the week, OGE will make another tie-in near the river Ruhr close to Bethunestraße, followed by the connections to the gas grid operated by the municipal utility of Villigst and to the customer Zapp (steelworks). This will require three simultaneous road closures in one direction in the Lethmaterstraße area, which may cause traffic disruptions. In addition, six customer tie-in points will be supplied with natural gas delivered by LNG trailers. The connection of the chain works is expected to go ahead in week 49.

The tie-ins will be followed site restoration work, which includes dismantling all of the temporary site installations, including construction roads and storage areas, and returning the used areas to their original condition. 

The Südwestfalen pipeline supplies numerous municipal and industrial customers with natural gas. It has a nominal diameter of DN500, a design pressure of 16 bar and is just under 3.5 km long. Repairing the pipeline in its current corridor right next to the B236 would have caused severe traffic disruptions with partial or even full road closures over a period of at least one year, so OGE decided to relocate the pipeline which plays an important role for security of supply in the region.