Investigation of the Effect of Process Parameters of the Main Pipelineson the Accident Risk Indices for Safe Distances Substantiation
Analysis was performed with regard to the normative-legal andmethodological approaches to determination of safe distances from hazardous production facilities of the main pipelines,including for cases of construction in the vicinity of the mainpipelines with the violation of the regulatory requirements. Experience was analyzed concerning the normative regulation ofthe main pipeline location in the UK, based on the methodology of quantitative risk assessment. Using regulatory methods ofRostechnadzor and the EMERCOM of Russia, the calculationswere carried out with regard to the effect of the main pipelinesprocess parameters and other factors on the accident risk indicesfor typical main pipelines of oil, gas and liquefied petroleum gas.It is shown that the most significant factors effecting the minimum distances on criterion of people exposure are: pipelinediameter (identifies the mass of hazardous substance dischargeand its share in the accident); properties of hazardous substances; value of the permissible individual risk of people fatalities;operating pressure; meteorological conditions that identify therate of hazardous substances evaporation and the range of clouddrift and explosion of fuel-air mixtures. Experience was generalized concerning the development ofProject Specific Technical Specifications and Safety Cases related to the deviations from the minimum distances establishedin SP 36.13330.2012. The analysis of the presented results showsthat the use of the modern methods of ensuring safety of themain pipelines allows to substantiate the significant decrease ofthe minimum distances compared to the regulatory values. It was proposed to introduce changes in SP 36.13330.2012,which will be ensuring the reduction by 40-60 % of the minimum distances tabulated values from the axis of the liquefiedpetroleum gas main pipelines to the settlements.