Bohai Equipment's "Steel Dragon" debuts in service after being launched into the water in Xiamen.

China National Petroleum Corporation News (Correspondents Li Changwang and Tao Zhiqiang) In the early hours of April 18, the seabed tunneling operation for the 1,374-meter-long, 1,600-mm-diameter steel pipeline project of the West-to-East Water Diversion Project in Xiamen, Fujian Province, was successfully completed. This marks the official start of the over-30-year underwater service period for this rare "steel dragon" segment—manufactured by Bohai Equipment Company—that will now lie beneath the sea for decades to come.

　　The Xishui East Diversion Raw Water Pipeline Project is a vital public welfare project and a key construction initiative for Xiamen City. It involves laying approximately 15 kilometers of raw water pipelines, each with a diameter of 1,600 millimeters—featuring a submerged tunnel section that crosses the waters of Tong'an Bay. This segment represents the largest-diameter, longest-length, and deepest single-lift offshore steel pipeline ever constructed using the immersed tube method in Fujian Province, making it an exceptionally rare project even on a national scale. The submerged tunnel section spans a considerable distance with varying elevations across different sections, requiring short steel pipes to be seamlessly connected "end-to-end" above water into longer, continuous tubes before being carefully lowered into an underwater trench averaging about 15 meters deep. The steel pipes will face extremely challenging service conditions beneath the sea.

　　Bohai Equipment Company, tasked with fully supplying the spiral steel pipes for the West-to-East Water Diversion pipeline project, boasts extensive experience in manufacturing offshore pipelines. In response to the specific requirements of this project—namely, transporting raw water through marine pipelines—the company has implemented rigorous quality controls throughout the production process, particularly focusing on welding integrity, to ensure the safety and reliability of the raw-water delivery system. Notably, the material, wall thickness, and anti-corrosion standards of the submerged pipelines have all been enhanced. After each steel pipe is welded, Bohai Equipment subjects it to a comprehensive "health check," examining not only with the naked eye but also employing advanced techniques like ultrasonic testing and X-ray imaging to guarantee a flawless finish. Additionally, multiple layers of corrosion-resistant "armor" are applied to the pipes, ensuring they remain durable and long-lasting even in the challenging underwater environment characterized by harsh seawater conditions and intense corrosive forces.

　　The successful completion of this supply of submerged steel pipes marks a significant breakthrough for Bohai Equipment Company in the manufacturing of long-distance spiral raw-water pipes designed for marine applications, paving the way for "Hua Zi" brand steel pipes to reach even wider oceanic markets.