CPCL vows adequate safety measures for Rs 126 crore EMRIP oil pipeline

Chennai:

Chennai Petroleum corporation Limited vowed adequate safety measures for the 17km long crude oil pipeline which will be laid at the depth of five feet along the berm of Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP).

CPCL general manager V Srinivasan  told reporters after the public hearing on laying of proposed 42 inch diameter crude oil pipeline of CPCL from Chennai Port to Manali Refinery here on Tuesday that the pipeline will be provided with Supervisory Control and data Acquisition (SCADA) system which will enable effective and efficient monitoring and control of entire pipeline network from master control center.

The system will also facilitate display of operational parameters, alarms on the entire pipeline to check the pipeline integrity through leak detection software and emergency shutdown of entire pipeline from MCC.

“The SCADA system is supported by optical fibre communication network which ensures reliable communication of data and voice,” Srinivasan said.

He said the Rs 126 crore pipeline will be laid in the service lane of new road and will not have any impact on habitations. “We won’t displace any habitations,” he assured. The pipeline will have a thickness of 12.5 mm which is much higher than the required thickness in order to improve the safety aspects.

He said the pipeline will; have three layer poly ethylene coating to prevent corrosion and it will pre-tested at a high pressure of 120 kg per square centimeter as operating pressure of 10 kg per square centimeter.

He said the peipeline will be laid under the ground at a depth of five feet and wherever required the depth will be increased to 15-30 feet using horizontal directional drilling technology and it can withstand earthquake of seismic zone III level.

Currently, the new pipeline proposal has been reviewed and recommended by Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNCZMA) for coastal regulation zone clearance by ministry of environment and forest in 2010. He said TNPCB has issued consent to establish the pipeline and Right of Way has been obtained from NHAI. The proposal is now under the consideration of Ministry of Environment and foest who has advised TNCZMA to conduct public hearing, he said.

Box:

Need for 42 inches crude oil pipeline

--- The existing 30 inch pipeline laid in 1969 is limiting crude transporting operations resulting in port congestion and higher operating expenditure

--- Railways proposed a fourth line along Chennai-Tiruvottiyur-Gumudipoondi route which necessitates the replacement of the existing crude oil line in new route

---The age and size of existing line restricts the possibility of further major capacity augmentation at Manali in order to meet the increasing demand for petroleum products in Tamil Nadu

Why fishermen oppose the project?

--- Livelihood is at stake as access to sea will be blocked

--- Living on fear whether the safety of pipeline is adequate

--- Fear of ground water getting contaminated

--- Fear over loss of planktons, the food for fish

--- Fear of being displaced due to the project

--- Kasimedu coastal area lies in Coastal regulation zone I where no commercial constructions can be allowed within 500 metres from the high tide line.

--- CPCL should pursue other options like installing crude oil pipeline from Ennore port to Manali oil refinery.