# What is known so far about the Nord Stream gas pipeline leaks
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-09-28
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Unexplained Gas Leaks in Nord Stream Pipelines Prompt
Meta Description: Discover the latest information about the mysterious gas leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines linking Russia and Germany, suspected to be the result of sabotage.
URL: https://financedigest.com/what-is-known-so-far-about-the-nord-stream-gas-pipeline-leakshtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-27t132923z1lynxmpei8q0kyrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-denmark-regulator-1736815139185-compressed.jpg)

By Nina Chestney

LONDON (Reuters) – Three unexplained gas leaks detected in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines from Russia to Germany have prompted the European Union and Russia to point at sabotage.

Here is a breakdown of what is known so far:

WHAT HAPPENED?

The [operator of the Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/denmark-invites-nord-stream-operator-to-help-salvage-unidentified-object.html "Denmark invites Nord Stream operator to help salvage unidentified object") 2 gas pipeline reported a sudden drop in pressure overnight on Monday, with a spokesperson suggesting there could have been a leak.

This was followed by a Danish Energy Authority statement that a leak had likely occurred in one of the two [Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/new-intelligence-points-to-pro-ukraine-group-in-nord-stream-attack-nyt.html "New intelligence points to pro-Ukraine group in Nord Stream attack -NYT") 2 pipelines lying in Danish waters.

A few hours later, Nord Stream AG, [operator of another undersea gas pipeline from Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/mcdonalds-to-sell-russia-restaurants-to-local-operator-rebrand.html "McDonald’s to sell Russia restaurants to local operator, rebrand") to Germany, said it was looking into a drop in pressure in Nord Stream 1.

Sweden’s Maritime Authority said on Tuesday it had warned of two leaks on [Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/yamal-europe-eastward-gas-flows-resume-as-nord-stream-lays-idle.html "Yamal-Europe eastward gas flows resume as Nord Stream lays idle") 1 in Swedish and Danish waters.

Each line of the pipeline consists of about 100,000 24-tonne concrete-weight coated steel pipes laid on the seabed. The pipelines have a constant internal diameter of 1.153 metres, according to [Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/kremlin-again-points-to-anglo-saxons-over-nord-stream-pipeline-blasts.html "Kremlin again points to ‘Anglo-Saxons’ over Nord Stream pipeline blasts").

Sections lie at a depth of around 80-110 metres.

WHERE ARE THE LEAKS?

Two leaks were detected on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which stopped delivering gas to Europe [last month](https://www.financedigest.com/monkeypox-emergency-could-last-months-with-window-closing-to-stop-spread-experts-say.html "Monkeypox emergency could last months, with window closing to stop spread, experts say"), both in an area northeast of the Danish island of Bornholm.

A leak was also detected on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which has yet to enter [commercial operations](https://www.financedigest.com/iveco-to-transfer-nordic-retail-and-commercial-operations-to-hedin.html "Iveco to transfer Nordic retail and commercial operations to Hedin"), in the same area.

Danish authorities have asked ships to stay clear by a five nautical mile radius off Bornholm. The plan to use Nord Stream 2 to supply gas was scrapped by Germany [days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February](https://www.financedigest.com/valentines-day-spending-boosts-british-retail-sales-in-february-brc.html "Valentine’s Day spending boosts British retail sales in February – BRC").

Both pipelines still contain gas under pressure.

WHAT CAUSED THE LEAKS?

It is not yet clear. [Analysts and experts say](https://www.financedigest.com/coffee-bean-grinders-market-is-set-to-witness-a-cagr-of-8-1-8-9-during-2021-2031-says-fmi-analyst.html "Coffee Bean Grinders Market is set to witness a CAGR of 8.1%- 8.9% during 2021-2031, Says FMI Analyst") such leaks are very rare and Nord Stream AG has called leaks on three strings of the offshore gas pipelines “unprecedented.

However, the European Union believes sabotage probably caused the leaks, Josep Borrell was reported as [saying by German](https://www.financedigest.com/german-minister-says-on-right-track-to-solving-co2-emitting-car-row.html "German minister says ‘on right track’ to solving CO2-emitting car row") broadcaster ntv, echoing views aired by Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The EU has not named a potential perpetrator or suggested a reason behind it.

On Wednesday Moscow said claims that Russia was somehow behind a possible attack on the pipelines were stupid, adding that Moscow saw a sharp [increase the profits](https://www.financedigest.com/coca-cola-hbcs-annual-profit-beats-warns-of-price-increases.html "Coca-Cola HBC’s annual profit beats, warns of price increases") of U.S. companies [supplying gas to Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe").

A day earlier the Kremlin had said it did not [rule out sabotage as a reason behind the damage and it was an issue affecting the energy](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-energy-bill-help-wont-lower-inflation-statisticians-rule.html "UK energy bill help won’t lower inflation, statisticians rule") security of the “entire continent.

Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden said they had registered two powerful [blasts on Monday in the vicinity of the leaks and the explosions were in the water](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-watching-its-waters-closely-after-gas-pipeline-blasts-pm-says.html "Finland watching its waters closely after gas pipeline blasts, PM says"), not under the seabed.

WHO IS INVESTIGATING?

Armed forces, coast guards, maritime authories, energy agencies and police from counties such as Sweden, Germany and Denmark are all carrying out investigations.

Sweden’s Prosecution Authority said it will review material from a police investigation into the damage to the pipelines and decide on further action.

Denmark’s defence minister has had a meeting with [NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-will-join-nato-on-tuesday-stoltenberg.html "Finland will join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg") in Brussels, adding it might take a week or perhaps two before the areas around the damaged pipelines were calm enough to be investigated.

[POTENTIAL IMPACT](https://www.financedigest.com/future-market-insightss-detailed-report-on-cat-litter-market-offers-projections-of-potential-impact-of-corona-virus-outbreak.html "Future Market Insights’s Detailed Report on Cat Litter Market Offers Projections of Potential Impact of Corona Virus Outbreak")?

Denmark’s armed forces said the largest gas leak had caused a surface disturbance of well over 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) in diameter, while agencies [issued warnings](https://www.financedigest.com/heatwave-scorches-europe-health-warnings-issued.html "Heatwave scorches Europe; health warnings issued") to shipping to avoid the area.

Although neither pipeline was in operation, they both contained natural gas – which is largely composed of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is the [second biggest cause of climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/bayer-shares-gain-on-prospect-of-second-activist-pushing-for-change.html "Bayer shares gain on prospect of second activist pushing for change") after CO2.

This has [raised fears](https://www.financedigest.com/cisco-forecast-raise-allays-tech-spending-fears-lifts-shares.html "Cisco forecast raise allays tech spending fears, lifts shares") that the disruption could cause a climate calamity – although to what extent is still unclear.

Norway has said it will strengthen security at its [oil and gas installations in the wake of the leaks and reports](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-funding-for-renewables-stagnates-vs-oil-and-gas-report.html "Bank funding for renewables stagnates vs oil and gas – report") of drone activities in the North Sea and Danish authorities asked that the level of preparedness in its power and gas sector be raised.

[(Reporting by Nina Chestney and Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/indonesia-to-tighten-used-shoe-import-controls-after-reuters-report.html "Indonesia to tighten used shoe import controls after Reuters report") bureaux; Editing by Alexander Smith, Alexandra Hudson)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---