On the rules of protection of main pipelines

It is currently difficult to imagine the life of large and small cities, as well as industrial enterprises, without a well-established pipeline system. They supply liquids and gases, allow people to heat their homes, and enable enterprises to operate successfully.

On the territory of the Vitebsk region, JSC "Vitebskoblgaz" transports hydrocarbons through pipes with a diameter of up to 530 mm and an excess pressure of up to 5.4 MPa, and considering these characteristics, the condition of the protection zones of main pipelines is an important factor.

For reference:

Protection zone - a territory or water area with special conditions of use, adjacent to the facilities of a main pipeline, intended to ensure the safety of the main pipeline facilities and create the necessary conditions for their operation, within which activities incompatible with the purposes of establishing the protection zone are restricted or prohibited.

Protection zone of a main pipeline - a land plot bounded by conditional lines running from 50 to 100 meters from the pipeline axis on each side.

Land plots included in the protection zones of main pipelines are not withdrawn from landowners and land users and are used by them for agricultural and other work, with mandatory compliance with the requirements of the Rules for the Protection of Main Pipelines.

Main pipelines run outside the populated areas - through fields, forests, water obstacles and are marked on the ground with identification posts 1.5-2 m high from the ground surface with an information and warning sign.

Gas pipeline protection zone - a territory with special conditions of use, established along gas pipeline routes and around other facilities of the gas distribution system in order to ensure normal operating conditions and exclude the possibility of damage. Since the gas pipeline is a source of increased danger, a protection zone is established along the territory where it passes.

Protection zones of gas distribution system facilities -

areas with special land use conditions, which are adjacent to gas pipelines and other facilities of the gas distribution system and are necessary to ensure their safe operation.

Explanation:

What is a gas pipeline protection zone?

If the gas pipeline is underground, its protection zone is a land area located between two parallel lines running on both sides of the gas pipeline axis (parallel). The size of this land area - the protection zone - varies for each category of gas pipelines and is: 2.0 m - for low-pressure gas pipelines; 4.0 m - for medium-pressure gas pipelines; 7.0 m - for high-pressure gas pipelines of category 2; 10.0 m - for high-pressure gas pipelines of category 1. Within the boundaries of protection zones, without written permission from the gas supply organization, it is prohibited to: - carry out land reclamation work, lay irrigation and drainage canals, and erect land reclamation system structures; - set up parking and stopping places for vehicles, tractors, and other self-propelled machinery; - carry out construction and installation work, soil grading; - carry out geological survey, exploration, geodetic, and other survey work related to the installation of wells, pits, and soil sampling (except for soil samples); - erect small architectural forms; - carry out dredging and excavation work. Within the boundaries of protection zones, it is prohibited to: - move, dismantle, cover, damage indicators of underground gas pipeline routes and locations of network facilities on them, control and measuring points; - arbitrarily open gas well and manhole covers, doors of gas distribution points, gas pipeline corrosion protection stations, open and close valves and shut-off valves, disconnect and connect power supply and remote control systems of gas pipelines; - set up dumps, pour aggressive liquids, including solutions of acids, salts, and alkalis; - store materials and equipment (including for temporary storage) along the route of the underground gas pipeline within 2 meters on both sides of the axis, as well as plant trees and shrubs of all kinds within 1.5 meters on both sides.

- damage structures and devices protecting gas pipelines and facilities on them from damage; - drop anchors, navigate with anchors dropped, chains, sounding leads, drag dredges, conduct trawling with rigid and semi-rigid trawls; - make fires and place any open or closed sources of fire; - conduct any events involving large gatherings of people not engaged in work permitted in the established manner; - carry out the construction of buildings, structures, and facilities. Physical and legal entities conducting excavations at a depth of more than 0.3 m must obtain written permission or approval from the gas supply organization, which specifies the requirements and conditions that are mandatory for the performers. The permission is accompanied by a diagram of the gas pipeline and facilities with references. Work in the protection zone of gas pipelines is carried out in the presence of their supervisor and a representative of the gas supply organization.

Operation of main pipelines

is controlled by both operating organizations and state supervisory authorities.

The analysis of identified violations of the requirements of the "Regulation on the procedure for establishing protection zones of main pipelines, their sizes and the regime of their use", approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated November 21, 2022 No. 800, showed that violations of legislation regulating the safe operation of main pipelines are identified annually in the Vitebsk region.

Non-compliance with the rules can lead to damage to high-pressure main pipelines, resulting in emergencies (death of people, death of livestock, destruction of nearby buildings and structures, fires over a large area, etc.), temporary interruption of hydrocarbon supply to consumers, and, as a rule, significant material and environmental damage.

Analysis of the control (supervisory) measures carried out indicates that the main violations of the Main Pipeline Protection Rules currently occur during the following operations:

logging - storage of sawn timber and/or logging residues in the protection zone, driving and crossing pipeline routes, working in the pipeline protection zone without written permission from the pipeline transport enterprise;

field agricultural work - planting fruit trees in the protection zone without written permission from the main oil pipeline operator, damage to the vent stack of a main gas pipeline branch during plowing; establishment of a landfill in the protection zone of a main gas pipeline; storage of straw in the protection zone of a main oil pipeline.

Legal entities and individuals found guilty of damaging pipelines and equipment during operations, as well as those who have violated the normal operation of gas (oil) supply systems, shall be held liable in the manner prescribed by the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

For your information: Violation of the main pipeline protection rules provides for a fine for an individual in the amount of 10 to 40 base units, for an individual entrepreneur - up to 50 base units, and for a legal entity - up to 200 base units (Part 1 of Article 18.34 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses), and violation of the main pipeline protection rules that caused damage to the main pipeline or interruption in gas supply to consumers entails a fine in the amount of 20 to 50 base units, for an individual entrepreneur - from 50 to 100 base units, and for a legal entity - from 200 to 500 base units (Part 2 of Article 18.34 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses).

Dear citizens!

Compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus in the field of main pipeline transport, in order to prevent violations in protected zones, contributes to the protection of public and state interests and the safe operation of main pipelines.