Currently, it is difficult to imagine the life of large and small cities, as well as industrial enterprises without an established system of pipelines. They supply liquids and gases, allow people to heat their homes, and businesses to operate successfully. However, while benefiting from the existence of gas pipelines, one must remember that gas communications are quite dangerous, and damage to them is fraught with a serious accident.
From the history of gas pipelines
The first gas pipelines were used in ancient China. Bamboo was used as pipes, and there was no excess pressure in the pipes and the gas was supplied by gravity. Connections of bamboo pipes were packed with tow, such structures allowed the Chinese to heat and light their homes, evaporate s alt.
The first European gas pipelines appeared in the second half of the 19th century. Then gas was used to create street lighting. The first street lamps were oil lamps, and in 1799 the Frenchman Lebon proposed thermal lamps capable of illuminating and heating rooms. The idea was not supported by the government, and he equipped his house with thousands of gas jets, which remained a Parisian landmark until the death of the engineer. Only in 1813In the same year, Le Bon's students managed to start lighting cities in this way, but this was already in England. It arrived in Paris six years later, in 1819. Artificial coal gas was used as fuel.
St. Petersburg began to heat the premises by transmitting gas through a gas pipeline in 1835, and Moscow in 1865.
Types of gas pipelines depending on the gas pressure inside them and the method of laying
A gas pipeline is a construction of pipes, supports and auxiliary equipment designed to deliver gas to the right place. The movement of gas is always carried out under pressure, on which the characteristics of each section depend.
Gas pipelines are main or distribution. The former transport gas over long distances from one gas distribution station to another. The latter are designed to deliver gas from a distribution station to a place of consumption or storage. The composition of the pipeline can include both one and several lines interconnected by a single technological chain.
Main gas pipelines are of two categories depending on the gas pressure in them.
- The first category of main gas pipelines operates under pressure up to 10 MPa.
- The second category of main gas pipelines is designed to work with gas, the pressure of which is up to 2.5 MPa.
Gas distribution pipelines are divided into three groups depending on the gas pressure in them.
- Low pressure. Gastransferred to them at 0.005 MPa.
- Medium pressure. Gas transmission in such pipelines is carried out under pressure from 0.005 to 0.3 MPa.
- High pressure. Work under pressure from 0.3 to 0.6 MPa.
Another classification makes it possible to divide all gas pipelines depending on the way they are laid into underground, underwater and land.
What is a gas pipeline security zone and why is it needed
This is a piece of land, symmetrical about the axis of the gas pipeline, the width of which depends on the type of gas pipeline and is established by special documents. The establishment of gas pipeline security zones makes it possible to prohibit or restrict construction in the area where the gas pipeline passes. The purpose of its creation is to create normal conditions for the operation of the gas pipeline, its regular maintenance, maintaining integrity, as well as minimizing the consequences of possible accidents.
There are "Rules for the protection of main pipelines", which regulate the establishment of security zones for various pipelines, which include gas pipelines transporting natural or other gases.
Agricultural work is allowed on the territory of the protected zone, but construction is prohibited. Works on the reconstruction of existing buildings, structures and networks must be agreed with the organization that maintains and operates the gas pipeline. Among the works that are prohibited to be carried out in the protected zone, there is also the arrangement of basements, compost pits,welding, installation of barriers preventing free access to pipes, creation of dumps and storage facilities, installation of ladders supported by a gas pipeline, as well as unauthorized connections.
Features of the high-pressure gas pipeline security zone
The security zone of the high-pressure gas pipeline of the 1st and 2nd category is equipped in the same way. Their function is to supply gas to distribution networks of low and medium pressure.
- High-pressure gas pipelines of the 1st category operate with gas under pressure from 0.6 MPa to 1.2 MPa, if they move natural gas or gas-air mixtures. For hydrocarbon gases transported in liquefied form, this pressure should not exceed 1.6 MPa. Their protection zone is 10 m on both sides of the gas pipeline axis in the case of gas distribution pipelines and 50 meters for high-pressure main gas pipelines through which natural gas is transported. If liquefied gas is being transported, the security zone is 100 m.
- High-pressure gas pipelines of the 2nd category transport natural gas, gas-air mixtures and liquefied gas under pressure from 0.3 to 0.6 MPa. Their security zone is 7 m, and if the gas pipeline is main - 50 m for natural gas and 100 for liquefied gas.
Organization of a buffer zone for a high-pressure gas pipeline
The security zone of the high-pressure gas pipeline is organized by the operating organization on the basis of a project that refines the survey,carried out after construction is completed and permits issued. To maintain it, the following activities are carried out.
- Every six months, an organization operating high-pressure gas pipelines is obliged to remind individuals and organizations that operate land in protected areas about the features of land use in these areas.
- Every year the track should be updated and, if necessary, corrected all the documentation issued on it. The security zone of the high-pressure gas pipeline is being specified accordingly.
- The security zone of a high-pressure gas pipeline is marked on its linear sections with the help of columns located at a distance of no more than 1000 m (Ukraine) and no more than 500 m (Russia), all angles of rotation of the pipe should also be marked with a column.
- The places where the gas pipeline intersects with highways and other communications are necessarily marked with special signs notifying that there is a high-pressure gas pipeline exclusion zone. Stopping vehicles within the designated security zone is prohibited.
- Each column is supplied with two posters with information about the depth of the route, as well as its direction. The first plate is installed vertically, and the other with mileage marks is installed at an angle of 30 degrees for visual control from the air.
Features of the buffer zone of medium pressure gas pipelines
Security zone of the medium pressure gas pipeline according to regulatory documentsis 4 meters. As for high pressure lines, it is established on the basis of technical documentation provided by design organizations. The basis for creating a buffer zone and applying it to the master plan is an act issued by local governments or executive authorities.
The security zone of the medium pressure gas pipeline assumes the presence of restrictions similar to those indicated for high pressure pipelines. To perform any excavation work in the buffer zone, you must obtain permission from the organization serving this section of the gas pipeline.
The marking of security zones for medium pressure is carried out similarly. On the columns there should be plates with information about the name of the gas pipeline, the linkage of the route, the distance from the plate to the axis of the pipeline, the size of the security zone, telephone numbers for contacting the organization serving this section of the gas pipeline. Shields are allowed to be placed on the supports of power lines, communication networks and control columns.
Features of the low pressure gas pipeline security zone
The main function of low pressure gas pipelines is to provide gas supply to residential buildings and structures, which can be either built-in or freestanding. Transportation of a large amount of gas with their help is unprofitable, so large utility consumers do not use such networks.
The security zone of the low pressure gas pipeline is 2 m on both sides of the laying axispipes. Such gas pipelines are the least dangerous, so the security zone around them is minimal. Restrictions on its operation are similar to those introduced for security zones of other types of gas pipeline.
The security zone of the low-pressure gas pipeline is marked similarly to the two previous ones. If the plates located on the bindings are yellow, then the laid pipeline is made of polyethylene. If it is green, then the material of the pipe is steel. The plate does not have the red edging at the top that is characteristic of high-pressure pipelines.
Security zone of the external gas pipeline
An external gas pipeline is a gas pipeline located outside buildings up to a diaphragm or other disconnecting device, or up to a case, with the help of which it is entered into the building in the underground version. It can be underground, above ground, or above ground.
For external gas pipelines, there are the following rules for determining security zones:
The security zone of the external gas pipeline along the routes is 2 m on each side of the axis
- If the gas pipeline is underground and made of polyethylene pipes, and a copper wire is used to mark the route, then the security zone of the underground gas pipeline in this case is 3 m on the side where the wire is located, and on the other side - 2 m.
- If the gas pipeline is built on permafrost, then regardless of the material of the pipes, its protection zone is 10 m on both sides of the pipe axis.
- If the gas pipeline is inter-settlement andcrosses woodland or areas overgrown with shrubs, its protection zone is 3 meters on both sides of the axis. They are arranged in the form of clearings, the width of which is 6 meters.
- The security zone of gas pipelines located among tall trees is equal to their maximum height so that the fall of a tree cannot cause a violation of the integrity of the gas pipeline.
- The security zone of an external gas pipeline passing under water through rivers, reservoirs or lakes is 100 m. It can be visually represented as the distance between two parallel planes passing through conditional border lines.
How a security zone is established for a specific gas pipeline
The protected zone of the gas pipeline is one of the territories with a special land use regime. At the same time, there is a sanitary protection zone for these objects, the rules for the arrangement of which are established by SanPiN 2.2.1 / 2.1.1.1200-03.
According to Appendix 1 to these rules, the sanitary zone of a high-pressure gas pipeline depends on the pressure in the pipe, its diameter, as well as the type of buildings and structures in relation to which the distance is calculated.
The smallest sanitary zone from rivers and other water bodies, as well as water intakes and irrigation facilities is 25 m for main gas pipelines of any diameter and type.
The largest protective zone of a high-pressure gas pipeline is necessary when it comes to a main gas pipeline of class 1 with a diameter of 1200 mm in cities, country housesvillages and other crowded places. In this case, the length of the sanitary zone reaches 250 m.
More detailed data on the sanitary protection zones of natural and liquefied gas main gas pipelines can be found in the relevant tables of this document. For highways transporting liquefied gas, sanitary zones have been significantly increased.
Violation of the security zone of the gas pipeline. Legal and environmental implications
Violation of the protected zone of the gas pipeline can cause a serious man-made accident, fire or explosion. They can be caused by unauthorized earthworks in protected areas without the consent of the gas pipeline service organization, falling trees, damage by cars.
In the best case, there will be a violation of the insulation, in the worst case, cracks and other defects will appear on the pipe, which over time will cause gas leakage. Such defects may not appear immediately and only eventually cause an emergency condition.
Damage of gas pipelines due to violation of security zones is punishable by a large administrative fine, which depends on the degree of damage. Demolition of buildings and structures built on the territory of protected zones is carried out by decision of the administrative court.
Unauthorized earthworks, unauthorized planting of trees and shrubs, organization of sports competitions, placement of fire sources, construction of buildings, development of sand pits, as well as fishing, deepening or cleaning the bottom and watering in places of passageunderwater section of the gas pipeline are punishable by fines from 5 thousand rubles.
Protection zones in the design of gas pipelines: land acquisition and development
To determine which gas pipeline security zone should be applied in each specific case, the Rules for the Protection of Gas Distribution Networks will help. Typically, this documentation, along with other permissions, is provided by the designers. The question of who will coordinate the project with the services that operate the networks, as well as with local authorities, is determined by the contract for the production of works. The organization carrying out the project must be licensed for these types of work.
The first step in creating a security zone is to perform a control survey. Its main purpose is to check the correctness of the bindings and their compliance with the design documentation.
The result of this survey is the specified coordinates of the characteristic points of the finished route, the location, number and geometry of the elements and parts of the gas pipeline, as well as the established regulatory points, measuring instruments, hydraulic fracturing and hydraulic distribution, supports and other structures.
Protection zones for gas distribution networks are determined by the Rules approved on November 20, 2000 by Government Decree No. 878.
Protection zones of gas pipelines are regulated by the Rules approved by the Ministry of Fuel and Energy on 1992-29-04 and Gostekhnadzor (No. 9) on 1992-22-04.
The result of these works is a map or plan for a given land management object, which is subject to agreement with the owners or users of land plots for whichpasses the gas pipeline. One copy of the land management file for this site is transferred to the state bodies of the land registry.
