Russ Oil-Gas

MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - Stroytransgaz, the construction arm of Russian energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP], said on Tuesday it had started building an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. The Sheyba-Abkayk oil pipeline, whose length exceeds 200 km (124 miles), is expected to be completed in 18 months. The construction will be carried out in the world's largest desert, Rub al-Khali, known for its record high temperatures, quick sands and dust storms. The oil pipeline project worth more than $100 million is part of the undertaking to boost the carrying capacity of the existing Sheyba-Abkayk (SHBAB-1) pipe and will run parallel with it, Stroytransgaz said in a statement.