Library / Page 1 of 67 MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, 2025
Page 1 of 67 MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, 2025

Page 20 of 67
Page 20 of 67 
 
(j) a pipeline shall not be put into operation unless an approval for its commissioning 
has been obtained from the Authority; 
(k) the right of way of every pipeline shall be free of overgrowth of vegetation to allow 
for free access to carry out operational tests, any other maintenance work and 
for prompt detection of leakages; 
(l) pipelines conveying hydrocarbons shall be designed with pigging facility to allow 
pigging operation. Intelligent pigging shall be conducted at intervals not more 
than five years. 
(m) an initial data gathering shall be obtained from any newly commissioned pipeline, 
and this shall form the basis for the integrity of the facility; 
(n) pipeline pressure testing shall be carried out at intervals of not more than five 
years at pressure of at least 125% of the maximum operating pressure; 
(o) a pipeline running on the surface shall be externally coated to meet the relevant 
provision of the NACE or equivalent standards to prevent atmospheric corrosion 
attack;  
(p) pipeline shall be suitably coated before burial and cathodic protection provided 
—  
(i) within 12 months, in the case of dry land, and  
(ii) within six months, in the case of swamp land, and  
the cathodic protection system shall be designed and constructed to meet the 
NACE standards or other internationally recognised equipment standards;  
(q) cathodic protection potential survey shall be carried out on all buried pipelines at 
intervals of not more than 24 months to ensure that every section of the protected 
line attains a negative potential of at least 850mV with reference to copper or 
copper sulphate reference electrode; 
(r) the result obtained during a survey carried out under sub-regulation (q) of this 
regulation shall be recorded and made readily available on demand, and the 
Authority may appoint officials to witness any periodic survey carried out under 
paragraph (q); 
(s) all other applicable safety provisions for the design, construction, commissioning, 
operation and maintenance of pipelines shall be as stipulated in the current 
editions of the guidelines issued by the Authority.