The German Approach on Safety of Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines WORKSHOP ON THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS OF GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINES (The Hague, 8 to 9 March 2006) Klaus Söntgerath State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology

Contents Introduction Regulations Approval processes Governmental Control Technical Experts Risk Assessment Conclusions

Introduction

Gas Pipelines in Germany Demand of Natural Gas in 2004: 119 * 10 9 m³ km of Pipelines Supplier Countries 2004:

Gas Pipeline Grid roundabout 240 km

Scope of the paper Pipelines for transportation and distribution of Natural Gas Incidental pressure above 16 bars Pipelines that leave the area of a plant Pipeline includes all elements for the operation of the pipeline

Regulations

Legislation General legislation  Energy Trade Act  Act for Safety of Products and Equipment Special legislation  Gas Pipeline Ordinance e. g. safety corridor, protection against third party activities, crossing of pipelines, corrosion protection, safety equipment, pressure measurement, permanent manned station, route inspection, recording, stand-by duty Risk assessment is not required!!!

Technical Guidelines of DVGW Detailed rules  State of the Art  The following of the State of the Art is assumed if the technical guidelines of the “DVGW - The German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water“ are observed e. g. G 463 Steel Gas Pipelines with an incidental pressure higher than 16 bars; Construction –Working Paper- 12/01 (G 463 Gasleitungen aus Stahlrohren von mehr als 16 bar Betriebsdruck; Errichtung -Arbeitsblatt- 12/01)

Technical Guidelines of DVGW Gas Pipeline Ordinance and G 463 Requirements: e. g. materials, safety factors, corrosion protection  Risk assessment is not required!!!  e. g. wall thickness Depends on pressure, material, safety factor Constant over a whole pipeline Depends not on risks e. g. density of population

Approval Processes

1st Step - Land Use Planning Land Use Planning Act  Land Use Planning of the States  Regional Land Use Planning Land Use Planning Ordinance: gas pipelines diameter > 300 mm: Approval process for land use planning Approval process  Including assessment of spatial impacts on the environment and public hearing  Simplified approval process  States or regional Land use plans include the pipeline – no approval process on Land Use Planning necessary  Decision on Land Use Planning by Regional Authority

2nd Step - Approval Process Diameter > 300 mm Art. 43 Energy Trade Act, established: 2001  EIA needed (regulated or decision by authority) Approval process including public hearing and EIA (Planfeststellung)  EIA not needed (regulated or decision by authority) Formal approval process without public hearing and EIA (Plangenehmigung) Diameter < or = 300 mm: Art. 5 Gas Pipeline Ordinance; Notification Process, established: 1974

Demands in Approval Process Notification Process  (Diameter 1000 m) or  included in the approval processes The construction of a Gas Pipeline  is to notify to the competent authority  at least 8 weeks before beginning of the construction  including all important documents of pipeline integrity  including a statement of a technical expert: The pipeline meets the requirements of the Gas Pipeline Ordinance

Demands in Approval Process The competent authority can refuse the plan  If it is not proven that the construction and operation meets the requirements of the Gas Pipeline Ordinance  If further requirements according to the Gas Pipeline Ordinance are necessary The construction of the pipeline can be started  After 8 weeks after the information of the competent authority  In case of refusal of the plan after the elimination of the fault(s)

Demands before Start of Operation Before Start of Operation  Pre-Certification of a technical expert about  Test of tightness and stability  Existing of safety equipment  No doubts about pipeline integrity Some time after the Pre-Certification  Final assessment of the technical expert whether the pipeline meets the requirements of the Gas Pipeline Ordinance  Final Certification

Governmental Control

Operator has to supervise an maintain his pipelines (Operator Responsibility) The Competent Authority  can require data of the supervision  can inspect the plants  can require supervision measures In special cases Inspections by technical experts because of supervision data

Announcements to the Competent Authority Setting a pipeline out of operation because of critical circumstances Accidents that caused dangerous wounded or killed people Leaks, dangerous for the vicinity Incidents with major material damages Circumstances that people or objects expose to danger

Technical Experts

Certification of Technical Experts Technical Expert Organisations Listed in Gas Pipeline Ordinance Personal certification of each Technical Expert by the States Exchange of lists of Technical Experts between the States

Technical Experts - Tasks Statement for Notification Process Pre-Certification Final Certification Assessment of pipelines e. g.  in case of incidents  By order of competent authority Statement before works at pipelines in operation

Risk Assessment An Example

Risk Assessment – Wind Turbines To assess – risk of Wind Farms in the vicinity of Gas Pipelines Assessed risks  Loss of a rotor blade  Loss of a rotor  Break of the tower Probabilistic assessment: limit damages per year Result: lowest distance between wind turbine and gas pipeline

Conclusions Germany has established an hierarchic legislative System on gas pipelines (Act – Ordinance – Rules) Approval processes for land use planning and pipeline projects are in use Greater projects need EIA and public hearing Supervision of pipelines in operation consists of Operator Responsibility – Authorities Control – Statements of Technical Experts Regulations have a deterministic approach – Risk Assessments are only used in single cases