Guidelines for laying product pipelines

Transportation of petroleum products, crude oil and gas through pipelines is considered as the cheapest, safest and environment friendly mode of transportation. The network of under-ground pipelines in the country has grown in a big way in the last few decades. The network of pipelines is immensely helpful in maintaining the supply chain of crude oil, petroleum products and gas in the country. The onshore cross country pipelines are laid underground at a depth of about 1.5 mtr. in a corridor of about 18 mtr. Wide, and is operated normally at high pressure.

In a major decision towards deregulation of oil sector and to attract investment in the petroleum product pipelines, in November, 2002, Government had laid down a new Petroleum Product Pipeline Policy for laying pipelines in the country on common carrier principle.

*Guidelines for laying petroleum product pipelines were notified on 20.11.2002.

*Supplementary Guidelines in this regard have also been notified on 26-10-2004.

*The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Amendment Act, 2011 notified on 13.01.2012. The amendment provides for more stringent punishment to curb incidents of pilferage from, and sabotage of, pipelines and also to serve as deterrent to the emerging security threat to the pipeline installations including those from extremists and terrorists. The provisions of the above Act came into force w.e.f 01.03.2012.