The Chinese are also involved in a separate planned natural gas pipeline project that will run westward from their British Columbia shale deposits to Vancouver for export to China.

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The loan, which was the largest ever provided to Russia by Eximbank, will finance the sale of 295 Caterpillar tractors for a natural gas pipeline project in the Siberian arctic.

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In the case of the Siberian gas pipeline project, Moscow was well aware of the inordinate West European dependency on Soviet natural gas supplies -- ultimately projected to exceed 60% of total European gas consumption -- which would have resulted from the successful completion of both strands of the twin 3, 600-mile pipelines connected to the West European gas grid.

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And, of course, Palin touted her gas-pipeline project.

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It has opened major gas pipelines to China and Iran, and is considering taking part in the Nabucco pipeline - an EU-backed project designed to provide an alternative to Russian gas supplies to Europe.

BBC: Turkmenistan profile

With Connecticut planning on tearing up 900 miles of ground for gas pipeline in coming years, and Hartford eyeing a project with 160 miles of wastewater and sewer separation, there may be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to piggyback on other infrastructure projects which involve crossing roads and other infrastructure.

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The company has also teamed up with ConocoPhillips and pipeline owner KinderMorgan on a separate project to bring natural gas from the Rocky Mountains to Ohio.

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The U.S. has opposed the project, instead promoting an alternative pipeline that runs from the gas fields of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and then to India.

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The project will include a floating production vessel, production wells and a gas export pipeline.

BBC: Chevron begins designs for drilling west of Shetland

Another project which Mr Putin is determined should go ahead is Russia's South Stream gas pipeline, across the Black Sea and into the heart of the European Union.

BBC: Struggle for Central Asian energy riches