Río Negro Intensifies Controls on VMOS Offshore Pipeline

The Río Negro Government maintains inspections at Punta Colorada on the offshore section of VMOS, focusing on the construction and environmental quality of infrastructure that will connect the onshore crude pipeline with the marine oil export system.

At this stage, technical teams are reviewing welds on subsea pipeline segments. Inspections include welding methods applied, welder certification, documentation of each joint, and testing to verify the strength and quality of the work.

Allen will be one of the main operational hubs of the system. From that location, crude will be sent through the pipeline to Punta Colorada, a journey that will take approximately 48 hours once the infrastructure becomes operational.

The crossing of the coastal zone is executed using Horizontal Directional Drilling, a technique that allows pipeline installation below the beach and seafloor without excavating a trench. The pipeline will emerge underwater between 700 and 750 meters from the coast, then extend toward offshore facilities.

Subsea Installation and Ship Loading

The offshore pipeline will span approximately seven kilometers and will be laid from a specialized vessel. Pipeline segments of 38 inches will be welded there, protected with concrete, and gradually lowered to the seabed using the S-lay method.

At the system's end, submarine structures PLEM will be installed to distribute and regulate flow to two single point moorings. These units will allow tankers to berth and receive crude through floating hoses. Their design will enable vessels to rotate around the connection point and accommodate wind, current, and wave conditions.