grievance registration no.: PMOPG/W/2015/0021597 -GAIL IS THE WONDERFUL COMPANY STRENGTHENING CONTINUOUSLY ITS SAFETY MEASURE

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From: PMCC-Corporate O&M (पीएमसीसी-कॉरपोरेट ओ. एण्‍ड एम.) <pmcccorponm@gail.co.in>
Date: Wed, Jun 10, 2015 at 6:16 PM
Subject: grievance registration no.: PMOPG/W/2015/0021597
To: "goswami248@gmail.com" <goswami248@gmail.com>

Sir,

This is with reference to grievance registration no.: PMOPG/W/2015/0021597,dated 27th  Jun 2014 received in GAIL (India) Limited portal on 27th May,2015 regarding various safety and security practices for natural gas pipelines. Your suggestions are well acknowledged and it is submitted that in GAIL, following measures are already in place and also being reviewed periodically for further improvements

Aerial Patrolling: Patrolling of ROU by GAIL engineers using helicopter is being done for major pipeline networks on monthly basis as per company’s approved Operation & Maintenance Policy. This is in practice since early nineties.

Leak detection Systems: LEL meters are used during Line Patrolling to find out any gas leakage. Further, Supervisory Control and data Acquisition (SCADA) system is available for all trunk pipelines of GAIL excepting regional pipelines connecting isolated & marginal fields. Centralized Application Software (APPS) system including Leak detection system has been commissioned for LPG  (JLPL, VSPL) and NG (DUPL, DPPL) pipelines. Remaining trunk pipelines are being covered in subsequent phases. For regional pipelines, APPS will be taken up in phases in conjunction with strengthening of instrumentation, communication pathways. Also GAIL has implemented a Leak Detection System based on Pressure Point Analysis Technique.  This system is configured in SCADA with Rate of Change (ROC) alarms pertaining to Pressure Points along the Pipelines of both LPG and NG where real time data is available.

Pipeline Markers:         The following types of markers are provided along the pipeline:

·        Warning Markers: Pipeline warning markers are provided at each & every kilometers. Apart from this, additional warning markers are also installed at each side of the highways (NH/SH), major district roads (MDR), railway crossings, water body crossings, any other major crossings and at entrance to stations.

For City/urban area, the warning marker are installed at every 50 meters and additional markers are also installed in between wherever there is any probability of damage or interference.

·        Directional Marker: The Directional markers are provided at each turning point and 150 meter upstream and downstream of turning point.

·        ROU Marker / Boundary Marker: ROU Marker/Boundary Markers are provided at maximum spacing of 400 meter along the pipeline route.

Gas Sampling: Monitoring of gas quality at source points for H2S,Moisture,CO2 etc  as per PNGRB regulations is being done at regular interval through portable analyser/Lab analysis. Further Centralized Procurement initiated for online/portable analysers for monitoring of H2S and moisture content in supply gas. Existing Lab facilities are being augmented for in-house analysis of source quality and pig residue and new lab facility at Rajahmundry is being established for KG Basin and Cauvery Basin source analysis.

Since quality of gas is the main factor in the internal corrosion of pipeline, a series of meetings held with ONGC in presence of ministry for installation of Gas dehydration units and supplying gas as per PNGRB standards, actions in this regard is in progress and in the meantime gas supply is being done with set of measures such as injection of Gas corrosion inhibitor (GCI) etc. as prescribed by M/s EIL.

Preventive Maintenance: It is pertinent to mention that GAIL Gas Pipelines are built as per the international Standards / Regulations with adequate safety measures and the Operation & Maintenance of the Pipelines is also carried out at par with global practices. In order to ensure safety and security of Gas Pipelines, various measures are already in place and are being carried out regularly.        

Some of the major measures are mentioned below for reference:

·          Periodical internal cleaning of the Pipelines through cleaning pig.

·          Cathodic Protection (CP) of Pipelines to prevent external corrosion and periodic PSP (Pipeline to Soil Potential) Surveys to confirm efficacy of CP System.

·          Close Interval Potential Logging (CIPL) / Direct Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) surveys to confirm the health & integrity of external coating of the Pipeline.

·          Intelligent Pigging of Pipelines to identify internal metal loss in Pipelines and predicted repairs along with their timeframes.

·        Daily foot patrolling in populated/ urban centers and monthly foot patrolling of Lines at other locations to identify encroachments / suspicious activities, if any.

·          Periodical technical audits of the Pipeline operations & maintenance by statutory authorities such as PNGRB, OISD etc.

Emergency Response:

GAIL is committed to respond promptly and effectively in all crisis situations for the safety of the company’s assets & personnel, persons living in the surrounding areas and to limit the damage to property and environment.

GAIL personnel posted in Gas terminals and Pipeline Maintenance bases come in to immediate action in abnormal operations and emergencies. Further with regard to major incidents leading to crisis situation, GAIL has two tier systems to handle any crisis:

a)     Emergency response team headed by Officer In charge of the respective Installation.

b)    Crisis management sub group at corporate level headed by Director (HR) and supported by Director (Marketing).

The above groups direct and monitor the mobilization of resources in controlling the crisis and relief & rehabilitation measures.

For faster response, IT and Mobile technology have been used using Voice Telephony and SMS and implementing easy Toll Free (15101) numbers for First Responders at site

Sir, we are making all out efforts to further strengthen our internal safety monitoring mechanism for safe and smooth operation of our pipelines and process plants.

Regards

PMCC,

Corporate O&M Department

GAIL (India) Ltd.

20^th Floor,Jubilee Tower

B-35 &35,Sector-1,Noida-201301

0120-2446400/4862400

Ext -12031/12009/12011

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