Technical Restrictions in the Vicinity of Incukalns UGS

The purpose of this material is to inform the real estate owners about the restrictions of economic activity and safety requirements in the protection zones of the Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage facilities (natural gas storage wells, gas pipelines with pressure above 1.6 megapascals, natural gas compressor stations, natural gas collection points, etc.) (hereinafter “UGS facilities”).

The Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage facility is operated by the Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage, a structural unit of the Joint Stock Company “Conexus Baltic Grid”. The main business processes of Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage are natural gas injection (in summer), natural gas storage and natural gas withdrawal (in winter). Natural gas with a very high pressure above 1.6 megapascals is transported through gas pipelines, therefore, according to the Protection Zone Law, safety protection zones are established for gas pipelines with a pressure above 1.6 megapascals and for UGS facilities.

Exploitation protection zones

According to Section 22 of the Protection Zone Law, exploitation (operational) protection zones around gas pipelines, gas supply installations and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites are determined to ensure the operation of gas pipelines, gas supply installations and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites. The following exploitation (operational) protection zones are established for UGS facilities:

  • around natural gas storage wells – at the distance of 50 meters from the well; 
  • around natural gas compressor stations – at the distance of 10 meters from the enclosure;
  • around natural gas collection points – at the distance of 10 meters from the enclosure;
  • around gas pipelines with a pressure above 1,6 megapascals – at the distance of 15 meters on each side of the axis of the gas pipeline.

Safety protection zones

According to Section 32.2 of the Protection Zone Law, the safety protection zones around gas pipelines with a pressure above 1.6 megapascals, gas regulation stations, gas regulation points, gas metering stations, natural gas compressor stations, natural gas collection points, gas storage wells, liquefied hydrocarbon gas warehouses, storage sites and filling stations, liquefied hydrocarbon gas cylinders and sales points thereof, motor vehicle filling stations shall be determined in order to mitigate the possible negative impact on humans in case of accident of these installations and structures. The following safety protection zones are established for UGS facilities:

  • around natural gas storage wells outside the gas storage area and wells which are not connected with natural gas storage collector layer – 100 metres from the well;
  • around natural gas storage wells which are located in the natural gas storage area and are connected with collectors layer – 300 metres from the well;
  • around natural gas compressor stations – at the distance of 450 metres from the external wall of the structure or compressor station installations;
  • around natural gas collection points – at the distance of 300 metres;
  • around gas pipelines with pressure above 1,6 megapascals and a diameter up to 300 mm – at the distance of 75 metres;
  • around gas pipelines with pressure above 1,6 megapascals and a diameter from 300 mm to 600 mm – at the distance of 125 metres;
  • around gas pipelines with pressure above 1,6 megapascals and a diameter from 600 mm to 800 mm – at the distance of 150 metres.

General restrictions and safety requirements for property owners in protection zones

The general restrictions in the protection zones are laid down in Section 35 of the Protection Zone Law. There are the following general restrictions and safety requirements in the vicinity of UGS facilities and in the protection zones:

  • Inčukalns UGS employees must be allowed access to UGS objects and their protection zones located on the real property in order to ensure the maintenance of UGS objects and to perform works necessary for exploitation, repair, renovation and rebuilding of the relevant object (Section 61, Paragraph 11 of the Protection Zone Law);
  • be careful during the fire danger period (spring-summer). Maintain the property boundaries around the UGS facilities in a fire-safe condition by clearing them of dry grass, bushes and trees in accordance with the provisions of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 982 of 5 December 2006 “Methodology for Determining the Protection Zones of Energy Infrastructure Facilities” (Paragraph 40). Do not allow the outbreak of fire or activities that may lead to fire;
  • do not approach UGS facilities unnecessarily, do not stand in the areas of UGS facilities bounded by fences, and do not touch the above-ground parts of UGS facility equipment under any circumstances;
  • pay special attention to the information signs in the protection zones of gas pipelines and wells and comply with their requirements;
  • immediately report any incidents of security breaches at or in the immediate vicinity of UGS facilities that may signal a potential threat (e.g., unattended items such as cars, bags, bundles, containers, etc. left unattended for a long time and other suspicious activities);
  • in case of natural gas leakage (e.g. whistling, bubbling in the ground), explosions or fires, immediately report to the Inčukalns UGS.

Restrictions in exploitation protection zones

According to Section 56 of the Protection Zone Law, in addition to the restrictions referred to in Sections 35 and 582 of this Law, the following restrictions are determined in exploitation (operational) protection zones around gas pipelines, gas supply installations and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites:

  • It is prohibited to install landfill sites;
  • it is prohibited to drop heavy objects, to throw out and pour out acid or corrosion causing substances, fuel, or lubricants;
  • it is prohibited to carry out works which are related to detonation and to extraction of mineral resources;
  • it is prohibited to block up and delimit with fences service roads and accesses to gas pipelines, gas supply installations and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites;
  • it is prohibited to perform works related to flooding of the land;
  • it is prohibited to cultivate trees and bushes in the areas which are indicated in the methodology for the determination of protection zones;
  • it is prohibited to construct any buildings;
  • it is prohibited to place storage facilities of feed-stuff, mineral fertilisers, hazardous chemical substances and products, timber, flammable, highly flammable, and extremely flammable substances, products, and materials;
  • it is prohibited to place filling stations;
  • it is prohibited to arrange quaysides for ships, barges, and floating cranes, and also to perform dredging work and drawing of soil;
  • it is prohibited to disturb, by any activity, employees of a gas supply undertaking (employees of Inčukalns UGS) who perform exploitation, repair, reconstruction works, works related to the prevention of accidents or liquidation of the consequences thereof;
  • unless a written agreement has been concluded with Conexus Baltic Grid (Inčukalns UGS), it is prohibited:
    • to perform works with fire and flame, to force piles, to use impact mechanisms with a capacity which exceeds 100 kilowatts;
    • to carry out earthwork deeper than 0.3 metres, but in arable lands – deeper than 0.45 metres, and also to perform amelioration and ground grading works;
    • to perform geological, geodesic, and other research works related to making of drillings and ground sampling (except for soil samples