Assurance of environmental safety of conventional overhaul and reconstruction technologies for trunk pipelines

摘要

In the paper, the author presents the analysis of certain overhaul methods for the linear part of oil and gas trunk pipelines involving the replacement of thermal insulation, which is aimed at assessing the environmental safety thereof. In particular, the following methods were reviewed: lifting and laying the pipeline on rollers on the trench shoulder or inside the trench, pipeline repair without changing its spatial layout, lifting and suspending the pipeline by pipe layers. Thereby, the paper specifically focuses on the overhaul technology providing for pipe wall restoration. In order to determine the adverse impact of operating machines and mechanisms on the atmosphere, the repair and construction works were structured to determine the number of machines and mechanisms required for each operating procedure based on the existing process flow diagrams. The amount of noxious atmospheric emissions was computed so as to factor in the motor power of machines and mechanisms. It was found that the time intervals, associated with the simultaneous performance of earthworks, lifting, cleaning, remedial welding, insulating and pipe laying works pose the greatest threats to the environment. The novelty of the paper consists in suggesting a methodology, offering new organizational solutions for overhaul and reconstruction of trunk pipelines in support of the environmental balance of the natural-industrial system.