The BHP report, which was the reference point during the discussions between Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and his Pakistani counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon on the project in Islamabad, states that the pipeline would be buried to a depth varying between 0.9 metres and 1.5 metres and would use fibre-optic cable sensing systems with a back-up satellite link for monitoring.
Maintenance units will be located every 150 km with pipe sections ready to install if there is a disruption to the 2600-km pipeline, 760-km of which is to pass through Pakistan.
"Any disruption to the pipeline can be rectified within two to three days. The 'line pack' capacity will be about three days which can take care of disruptions as well as the wide fluctuations in Pakistan's gas demand," the report states.
As additional precaution, BHP has recommended that both India and Pakistan build gas storage facilities that could take care of a fortnight's demand.
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