Information for organizations and third parties on the safety requirements for execution of work and the rules of conduct in the restricted zone of main pipelines of the Partnership
Tauekel-Gaz Kubyry LLP is the operator of the Atasu-Alashankou and Kenkiyak-Kumkol oil pipelines (the crossing the territory of Zhetysu, Abay, Karaganda, Ulytau, Kyzylorda and Aktobe regions (the Owner’s pipelines).
The Owner’s pipelines are operated by the national operator of the Republic of Kazakhstan - JSC KazTransOil through the Eastern and Western Departments of Operator Services.
Technical conditions for works within the restricted zone and safety zones of the Owner's pipelines have been developed in accordance with the requirements of legislation and technical documentation regulating the operation of main pipelines (the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On the main pipeline', the code of rules of the Republic of Kazakhstan - SP RK 3.05-101-2013 'Main pipelines').
1. Technical characteristics of the Owner’s pipelines and their facilities:
1.1. The diameter 813mm, design pressure 6.4 MPa, pipeline category – I-III (depending on the section), minimum burial depth – 2000 mm. At the motorway and railroad crossings the pipeline has a protective casing made of steel pipes 1016 mm in diameter.
1.2. Fiber-optic cable goes 9-9.5m from the pipeline axis on the left side of the flow direction at 1.2 m depth; at the crossing points it adjoins the pipelines in the protective casing.
1.3. Service OHL-10Kv goes 20m from the pipeline axis on the left side of the flow direction.
2. Networks cross the Owner’s pipelines in accordance with the normative requirements.
2.1. The crossing angle has to be 900.
2.2. In case of the casing reconstruction provide for cathodic protection of the casing from corrosion according to the requirements of ST RK GOST R 51164-2005 «Steel main pipelines. General requirements for corrosion protection».
2.3. Install the crossing signs on both sides of the crossing according to ST RK 3362-2019, as well as signs «No stopping».
2.4. Earthworks within 5 m on both sides of the pipeline have to be performed manually, without impact tools or heavy machinery.
3. FOCL crossing:
3.1. Earthworks in the 3 m zone on both sides of FOCL have to be performed manually, without impact tools, witnessed by the operator’s representative.
3.2. In case of the intercrossing between the networks and FOCL the distance between them has to be minimum 1200 mm. install the warning markers on both sides of the crossing.
4. High-voltage OHL-10Kv crossing:
4.1. OHL crossing has to comply with requirements of EIC RK, CEIR RK and SNiP RK. Install warning signs on both sides of the crossing for transport movement and height limits.
4.2. Distance from the road pavement to the wire dip has to be minimum 7m.
4.3. The horizontal distance from the tower base to the edge of the road bed must be at least the height of the tower.
4.4. Towers with pin insulators have to use double wire fastening.
5. Performance of work:
5.1. Works have to be performed in accordance with the normative documentation and a method statement.
5.2. Before starting the work, clarify the depth of laying of the Owner's Oil Pipeline and fiber-optic communication line cable.
5.3. Backfilling has to be performed with layer-by-layer compaction, layer thickness - maximum 30 cm.
5.4. All works at the crossing of the Owner's pipeline and its facilities have to be witnessed by the operator’s representative:
– for Zhetysu, Abay, Karaganda, Ulytau, Kyzylorda and Aktobe regions and Kazaly, Karmakshy, Zhalagash, Aral districts of Kyzylorda region - representatives of the Eastern department of operator services of JSC 'KazTransOil'.
6. The burial depth, the pipeline picket, FOCL at the crossing point have to be confirmed before engineering and indicated in the detailed drawings. Detailed drawings (indicating the pipeline picket) of the major overhaul or other works at the pipeline, FOCL, OHL crossing have to be approved with the Owner before the work.
7. Prior to commencement of major overhaul or other works at the pipeline crossing, develop and approve a method statement for the work in the restricted zone of the pipeline, FOCL and OHL with the operators and the Owner.
8. During the work in the pipeline’s restricted area:
8.1. All construction works in the restricted area of the pipeline (50 meters on both sides from the pipeline axis), FOCL and OHL have to be witnessed by the representatives of the operating companies and the Owner.
8.2. Notify the operating companies and the Owner in writing about the work commencement time 10 (ten) calendar days in advance.
8.3. Upon completion of work issue a bilateral act, one copy to be sent to the operating company, a photocopy - to the Owner;
8.4. Issue and submit as-built documentation to the Owner for the crossings in UTM reference system and in the Baltic elevation system.
9. Deviation from these technical conditions are allowed only upon the Owner’s permission.
10. All contacts of the pipeline operator are given on the information boards at the Owner’s facilities.
Restricted zone of the main pipeline
The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 20-V of June 22, 2012 'On the main pipeline' (the Law) regulates public relations arising from the operation of the main pipeline and is aimed at its safe operation.
Speaking about the safety of operation, first of all, we mean life and health of people, the environment. That is why the Law provides for such concepts as the restricted zone of the main pipeline, the minimum distance.
What is the restricted zone?
According to paragraph 9, Article 1 of the Law, it is a territory with special conditions of security and use adjacent to the main pipeline facilities and intended to ensure safety of the population and create necessary conditions for the safe and uninterrupted operation of pipeline facilities, where activities incompatible with the purposes of its establishment are restricted or prohibited. Thus, in simple words, the restricted zone is an area where any life sustenance facilities or human presence is forbidden. When several pipelines are located in the same technical corridor, a restricted zone, single for all pipelines, is established.
Where restricted zones are established?
According to paragraph 2, Article 14 of the Law, they are established:
along the routes of the main pipeline transporting oil, oil products, natural gas, oil and artificial hydrocarbon gases, - in the form of a land parcel limited by conditional boundaries 50 meters from the axis of the pipeline on each side; on agricultural lands the restricted zone of the main pipeline is limited by conditional boundaries 25 meters from the axis of the pipeline on each side; along the routes of the main pipeline transporting liquefied hydrocarbon gases, unstable gasoline and condensate, - in the form of a land parcel limited by conditional boundaries 100 meters from the axis of the pipeline on each side.
What is forbidden in the restricted zones?
According to paragraph 5, Article 14 of the Law, forbidden are:
gardening and forestry, as well as any works not agreed with the Owner, except for a complex of agrotechnical works for cultivation of field crops with a plow depth of maximum thirty-five centimeters; construction of any buildings and structures; organization of parking lots for cars, tractors and mechanisms; land reclamation earthworks, construction of irrigation and drainage systems; construction, installation works, ground shaping without coordination with the Owner; geological survey, prospecting, geodetic and other surveys related to construction of wells, pits and core sampling (except for soil samples).
Minimum distances
According to paragraph 5, Article 14 of the Law, in order to ensure safety, construction of any facilities not related to the main pipeline within the minimum distances established by the SP RK 3.05-101-2013 'Main pipelines' is prohibited.
Minimum distances are set from 50 to 300 meters, depending on the product transported and the diameter of the pipe.
In this regard, the minimum safe distance from the axis of the pipeline in each direction to the nearest buildings and structures should start from 50 to 300 meters.
We call for strict observance of the above prohibitions and restrictions, since it is the external impact that may be the primary cause of the emergency situation; there are no other direct safety threats at the present time.