Explanation: The principal function of the BTC pipeline is to transport crude oil from the Caspian Sea region to the Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey, not to Eastern European markets.

Explanation: While extensive, the BTC pipeline ranks as the second-longest oil pipeline within the former Soviet Union, surpassed by Russia's Druzhba pipeline.

Explanation: The pipeline's origin is the Sangachal Terminal in Azerbaijan, and its terminus is the Ceyhan Marine Terminal in Turkey, facilitating oil transport to Mediterranean markets.

Explanation: With a length of 1,076 kilometers, the segment of the BTC pipeline within Turkey is considerably longer than those in Azerbaijan (443 km) and Georgia (249 km).

Explanation: The pipeline's route navigates challenging topography, including significant mountain crossings and numerous river and stream crossings, underscoring the engineering complexity of the project.

Explanation: The pipeline's design life is estimated at 40 years, with a nominal daily capacity of 1 million barrels, reflecting its significant role in regional energy transport.

Explanation: The entire length of the BTC pipeline requires approximately 10 million barrels of oil to be filled, a volume significantly larger than one million barrels.

Explanation: The pipeline's diameter is not consistent; it is primarily 1,070 millimeters (42 inches) for most of its route, narrowing to 865 millimeters (34.1 inches) as it approaches the Ceyhan terminal.

Explanation: While the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field is a primary source, the BTC pipeline is engineered to accommodate oil from other Caspian region fields, such as Kazakhstan's Kashagan field.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline's principal purpose is to serve as a secure conduit for crude oil originating from the Caspian Sea basin, transporting it to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Turkey.

Explanation: With a length of 1,768 kilometers (1,099 miles), the BTC pipeline is the second-longest oil pipeline constructed within the territory of the former Soviet Union, surpassed only by the Druzhba pipeline.

Explanation: The primary source of crude oil for the BTC pipeline is the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field complex located in the Caspian Sea, offshore Azerbaijan.

Explanation: The pipeline's route spans across three sovereign nations: it originates in Azerbaijan, transits through Georgia, and terminates in Turkey.

Explanation: Turkey hosts the longest segment of the BTC pipeline, measuring 1,076 kilometers, significantly exceeding the lengths within Azerbaijan (443 km) and Georgia (249 km).

Explanation: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is designed with a projected operational lifespan of 40 years.

Explanation: Approximately 10 million barrels of crude oil are required to fill the entire volume of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

Explanation: The predominant diameter of the BTC pipeline measures 1,070 millimeters (42 inches), although it narrows to 865 millimeters (34.1 inches) near its terminal point.

Explanation: In addition to the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields, the Kashagan oil field in Kazakhstan is identified as another significant potential source of crude oil for the BTC pipeline.

Explanation: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline traverses Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. Armenia is notably excluded from its route.

Explanation: The post-Soviet era necessitated the development of independent export routes for Caspian oil, as previous infrastructure was largely controlled by or routed through Russia.

Explanation: Contrary to initial support, Russia's stance was characterized by insistence on routing Caspian oil through its territory. It ultimately declined to participate in the BTC project, which facilitated the development of alternative routes.

Explanation: The foundational intergovernmental agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey concerning the BTC pipeline was signed on March 9, 1993, not in 1992.

Explanation: The Ankara Declaration, signed by leaders of several nations and witnessed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, represented a pivotal moment in securing broad international support and commitment for the BTC pipeline's advancement.

Explanation: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 created a geopolitical vacuum and spurred the development of independent export routes for the vast oil reserves of the Caspian Sea region, reducing reliance on Russian infrastructure.

Explanation: Turkish Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel was instrumental in proposing the pipeline's route through Turkey to regional partners in 1992.

Explanation: The Ankara Declaration, signed by key regional leaders and witnessed by U.S. officials, signified a critical juncture in solidifying international backing and commitment for the development of the BTC pipeline.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline traverses only three countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. Armenia is deliberately excluded from its route due to geopolitical considerations.

Explanation: The route through Armenia was deemed politically infeasible due to the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, rendering it an unviable option despite potential cost or distance advantages.

Explanation: Oil from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan is transported to the BTC pipeline primarily via tankers across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan, circumventing Russian rail links.

Explanation: This proposal involves utilizing Israeli oil terminals and the Trans-Israel pipeline to facilitate the eastward transport of crude oil originating from the BTC pipeline.

Explanation: Conversely, the BTC pipeline significantly augmented the strategic importance of the South Caucasus for Western nations by providing a vital energy corridor and fostering increased geopolitical engagement.

Explanation: A key objective behind the BTC pipeline's conception was to establish an alternative energy route that would lessen the influence of Russia and Iran over Caspian energy exports and regional geopolitics.

Explanation: By bypassing Armenia, the pipeline's route has been cited as a factor contributing to the nation's economic marginalization and geopolitical isolation.

Explanation: The protracted political conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning Nagorno-Karabakh rendered any pipeline route through Armenian territory politically untenable for international consortiums and transit countries.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline significantly elevated the geopolitical importance of the South Caucasus for Western nations, fostering greater engagement and establishing a crucial energy transit corridor independent of Russian control.

Explanation: A notable criticism is that the BTC pipeline's route deliberately excludes Armenia, thereby contributing to the nation's economic and geopolitical isolation within the broader region.

Explanation: The ongoing political conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh was the principal obstacle preventing the selection of a pipeline route through Armenia.

Explanation: BTC Co. was established in August 2002, and the ceremonial launch of construction activities took place in September 2002, marking the project's transition to the execution phase.

Explanation: The inauguration ceremonies were held in the following sequence: Azerbaijan (May 2005), Georgia (October 2005), and finally Turkey (July 2006).

Explanation: This milestone event marked the successful delivery of the first oil shipment through the completed BTC pipeline, culminating in its loading onto the tanker 'British Hawthorn' at the Ceyhan terminal.

Explanation: The pipeline is equipped with eight pump stations distributed across its route: two in Azerbaijan, two in Georgia, and four in Turkey, to maintain the necessary pressure for oil flow.

Explanation: The inauguration ceremonies were conducted sequentially, beginning in Azerbaijan (May 2005), followed by Georgia (October 2005), and concluding in Turkey (July 2006).

Explanation: The tanker 'British Hawthorn' was utilized to load the inaugural shipment of crude oil that successfully traversed the BTC pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan in late May 2006.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline system is equipped with a total of eight pump stations strategically located along its route to maintain adequate pressure for oil transport.

Explanation: The pipeline is buried to a minimum depth of one meter, not five meters, to ensure its security and protection from surface-level threats.

Explanation: Archaeological surveys commenced in the year 2000, predating the official start of pipeline construction in 2002, allowing for proactive identification and management of potential discoveries.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline traverses seismically active zones and regions with unresolved separatist conflicts, presenting significant security challenges that necessitate robust protective measures.

Explanation: The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) asserted responsibility for the 2008 incident in Refahiye, Turkey, which caused significant damage and interrupted the pipeline's flow.

Explanation: Environmental activists voiced significant opposition to the pipeline's proximity to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park's watershed, expressing concerns about potential ecological impacts rather than offering support.

Explanation: By providing an alternative export route, the BTC pipeline significantly decreases the number of oil tankers navigating the Bosphorus, thereby enhancing safety and reducing environmental risks for Istanbul.

Explanation: Human rights activists frequently criticized Western governments for supporting the BTC pipeline, citing documented human and civil rights abuses within Azerbaijan, rather than praising the nation's record.

Explanation: The documentary *Zdroj* focused on human rights abuses, including violations of land rights and suppression of dissent, associated with the BTC pipeline's construction, rather than positive labor practices.

Explanation: The 'King pipeline' in the film served as a thinly veiled depiction of the real-world BTC pipeline, reflecting its geopolitical significance and construction narrative.

Explanation: Archaeologists were engaged in pre-construction surveys and were responsible for managing the excavation and preservation of cultural artifacts discovered along the pipeline's route.

Explanation: The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the explosion and fire incident that occurred in August 2008, which temporarily disrupted operations of the BTC pipeline in Turkey.

Explanation: Concerns were raised regarding the potential impact of the pipeline's route on the watershed of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, particularly its renowned mineral water springs.

Explanation: The BTC pipeline offers an alternative export route, thereby reducing the number of oil tankers that must transit the Bosphorus Strait, enhancing Istanbul's environmental safety.

Explanation: The documentary *Zdroj* documented instances of human rights violations, including the improper seizure of land under eminent domain laws and the suppression of critical voices during the pipeline's construction.

Explanation: The 'King pipeline' depicted in the James Bond film *The World Is Not Enough* served as a fictionalized portrayal of the real-world Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline project.

Explanation: The pipeline's path through Georgia and Turkey traverses areas affected by unresolved separatist conflicts, posing security risks such as sabotage or potential attacks.