LUKOIL pays special attention to environmental and industrial safety in the Arctic. The Company has built an effective management system that enables timely monitoring of facilities located in the permafrost area, and uses the most advanced engineering solutions and methods of engineering protection. Climatic specifics of northern territories are taken into account at the design, construction and operation phases of all production facilities
LUKOIL continues to pay more attention to risks associated with its activities in the Arctic, monitors the state of the environment across a relevant range of parameters, and develops measures to deal with identified risks and prevent environmental damage.
In 2020, the Company assessed the physical risks in the Arctic by running scenario projections of changes in weather and climate conditions in the area over the period of 2031-2050 compared to 1991-2010 for several scenarios of anthropogenic impact on the climate.
At the design phase of production facilities the impact of climate change is assessed, possible thawing of permafrost is taken into account, and facilities are designed with a large safety margin based on engineering calculations and geological surveys. Engineering solutions are implemented to prevent permafrost thawing, maintain equipment integrity and reduce product losses.
Pipelines, buildings, structures, and tank farms are built on pile foundations.
Aerial crossings are constructed when water bodies are crossed.
Boreholes are drilled using the slant-hole directional drilling method ("pipe-in-pipe"), which prevents intense warming of soils.
Construction on piles. Pipelines are mostly constructed above ground on high pile foundations. During construction of facilities, piles made of cold-resistant steel are submerged in boreholes. Cavities within the seasonal freezing and thawing layer are filled with frost-resistant concrete. The lower ends of the piles are at least 0.5 m lower than the ice foot. The piles are marked with geodetic markers that indicate pile deflection due to settling or movement of the ground. For timely identification of equipment sludge, the pile substructure and foundation markers are leveled (once every two years).
Thermal stabilization systems. The following solutions are used to maintain the temperature regime of permafrost soils and to eliminate unexpected heat losses:
temperature stabilization systems, which are sealed structures made of pipes filled with refrigerant;
plastic-frozen soil stabilizers;
thermal insulation screens at the base of underground tanks;
exterior thermal insulation of facilities.
Polymer pipes. LUKOIL considers the use of polymer reinforced pipes as one of the most promising solutions. Their main advantages are longer service life, corrosion resistance to pumped media, possibility of use in conditions with low bearing capacity of soils, adaptation to ground displacement during autumn and spring flooding and to changes in permafrost, low heat transfer coefficient (reduction of heat loss), and other characteristics.
At the operation phase, systematic maintenance and control of the buildings and equipment condition are carried out, including the following:
control of temperatures of critical units, characteristics and vibration, check of alignment of the main process equipment;
monitoring of the foundations of buildings and structures;
monitoring of seasonal thawing depths and groundwater levels.
Equipment is monitored at least once a year by qualified specialists engaged on a contractual basis and by LUKOIL employees (surveying inspections, geotechnical monitoring). If any violations of the thermal regime of soils exceeding the permissible values are identified, additional measures are taken to restore the original temperature.
The technical condition of the main gas pipeline of the gas transportation system in the Bolshekhetskaya Depression is monitored annually by helicopter inspection using a laser gas leakage locator, as well as on a monthly basis by visual inspection driving along line pipes.
Maintenance schedules for process equipment, access to which depends on weather conditions, are changed as part of relevant organizational measures.
