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Management of Electrical Risks in

Transmission Line – Pipeline Shared
Rights-of-Way
Jose R. Daconti (*), Shaw Power Technologies, Inc.

I. INTRODUCTION III. COUPLING MECHANISMS

Nowadays, the difficulties in establishing new rights-of-
way for power lines and pipelines increase the need of
locating these installations in shared corridors. This paper
intends to address the potentially harmful effects for the
pipeline due to its proximity to the power line.
Initially, the paper will discuss the pipeline-induced
disturbances. Then, the coupling mechanisms (capacitive,
inductive and conductive) between the two installations will
be presented. Additionally, the conditions under which the
pipeline-induced disturbances should be evaluated will be
exposed.
Next, the potential risks for people and pipeline will be
addressed. After that, typically adopted safety limits will be
presented.
Then, typical mitigation methods to reduce unacceptable
disturbances to acceptable levels will be discussed.
Finally, typical recommendations for pipeline design,
construction and maintenance in shared rights-of-way will be
presented.
Generically, a physical process of transferring disturbances
to a nearby installation requires the existence of a source of
disturbances, a coupling mechanism and a receptor. In the
present analysis, the source of disturbances is the power line,
the receptor is the metallic pipeline and the coupling
mechanism is the capacitive, inductive and conductive
coupling between power line and pipeline.
The Capacitive Coupling disturbance is produced by the
electric field of the power line and needs to be evaluated only
for above-ground sections of pipeline that are electrically
isolated from the ground. Any pipeline-to-ground connection
makes this disturbance negligible. Usually, the evaluation of
this disturbance is performed only for steady-state operation
condition of the power line, assuming the line operates at its
maximum operational voltage.

II. PIPELINE INDUCED DISTURBANCES

Metallic pipelines used for fluid transportation (gas, oil,
water, etc) are typically underground, several kilometers long,
protected by an external anti-corrosive coating and behave
like long conductors insulated from the ground. Sometimes,
these pipelines have above-ground sections which are usually
uncoated (just painted against corrosion) and isolated from the
underground sections by means of insulating joints.
The pipeline-induced disturbances are caused by the power
line operating voltage and circulating currents. These
Figure 1 – Capacitive Coupling
disturbances are basically induced voltages on the pipeline
metal. Some of these disturbances may occur even when the
The Inductive Coupling disturbance is produced by the
transmission line is under steady-state operation condition,
magnetic field of the power line and needs to be evaluated for
while others may occur only during short-circuits on the underground sections of pipeline. It needs to be evaluated for
transmission line. above-ground sections of pipeline, only if these sections are
grounded. This disturbance depends directly on the
Overhead power lines as well as underground power lines transmission line current unbalance. The evaluation of this
can induce harmful effects on nearby metallic pipelines. disturbance is usually performed for steady-state, as well as
short-circuit operational condition of the power line. This
disturbance shall be evaluated taking into account the
maximum planned levels of steady-state and short-circuit
(*) 1 518 395.5090; jose.daconti@shawgrp.com currents.
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The most basic concern regarding the proximity between a

power line and a pipeline is to make sure that the electrical
clearances between the mentioned installations are large
enough to avoid electrical discharges from the former to the
latter. Besides that, the following risks may exist:
- Electric shocks to people who may contact the pipeline: This
can happen at above-ground sections of pipeline and above-
ground metallic accessories connected to underground
sections of pipeline. The tolerability of people to electric
Figure 2 – Inductive Coupling
shocks depends on the shock duration;
The Conductive Coupling disturbance is produced by the
ground potential rise due to the electrical currents injected into
the ground by the transmission line. It needs to be evaluated
for underground sections of pipeline. It needs to be evaluated
for above-ground sections of pipeline, only if these sections
are grounded. The evaluation of this disturbance is performed
only for short-circuit condition of the power line. This
disturbance shall be evaluated taking into account the
maximum planned level of short-circuit current.
It is important to mention that under short-circuit condition
the disturbances due to Inductive and Conductive Coupling
occur simultaneously.

Figure 5 – Electric Shock

- Damage to the pipeline insulating coating: This can happen
at underground sections of pipeline, as a consequence of the
application of an excessive voltage stress across the pipeline
coating. The coating becomes internally exposed to the
pipeline metal electric potential Vp (produced by inductive
plus conductive couplings) while becoming externally
exposed the local ground electric potential Vs (produced by
Figure 3 – Inductive plus Conductive Coupling conductive coupling);

IV. POTENTIAL RISKS

Vs

Vp
Figure 4 – Electrical Discharge from Power Line to
Pipeline
Figure 6 – Electrical Stress Applied to Pipeline Coating

Damage to the pipeline insulating joints: This can happen to
insulating joints used to separate above-ground from
underground sections of pipeline, or insulating joints used to
separate pipeline sections connected to different cathodic
protection systems. These insulating joints can be damaged if
exposed to voltage stresses above their maximum voltage
withstand capability;
VP(L) VP(R)
Figure 7 – Electrical Stress Applied to Insulating Joint
- Damage to the pipeline cathodic protection system: This can
happen if the pipeline electric potential (at the point of
connection to the cathodic protection system) is above the
maximum reverse tolerable voltage of the cathodic protection
system rectifier.
Figure 8 – Electrical Stress Applied to Rectifier
V. SAFETY CRITERIA
People who may contact the pipeline can be exposed to
electric shocks (touch voltages) caused by long-duration
pipeline induced voltages (produced during the steady-state
operation of the power line) or short-duration pipeline induced
voltages (produced during short-circuit occurrences on the
power line). Typically, long duration shocks should be limited
to 5 mA (estimated shock current that would produce loss of
muscular control for 0.5% of children) while short duration
shocks should be limited to 164 mA (estimated minimum
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shock current that would produce a ventricular fibrillation
probability equal to or less than 0.5% for a 50 kg weight
person, according to Dalziel’s Equation for a shock duration
time equal to 0.5 seconds). Although these are typical limits,
each country or state has its own regulation which must be
respected. For instance, New York State Pipeline Code
requires that long duration voltages induced on pipelines by
electric lines must be limited to 15 volts;
Damage to the pipeline insulating (anti-corrosive) coating
could lead to pipeline corrosion problems. This risk can be
avoided if short-duration voltages applied across the pipeline
external coating are limited to 5 kV. Such a level has been
considered appropriate for the regularly used thicknesses of
plastic (polyethylene) and bituminous (coal-tar) coatings.
Plastic coatings have high thermal stability whereas
bituminous coatings have low thermal stability.
Damage to the pipeline insulating joints can be avoided if the
voltage stresses across them are limited to a level below the
maximum withstand voltage of the mentioned joints. The
maximum withstand voltage depends on the type of insulating
joint. Some of them are able to withstand 5 kV when
submitted to short-duration voltage stresses. If higher voltage
stresses are anticipated, surge arresters should be installed
across the insulating joints. In this case the nominal voltage
and the energy dissipation capability of the surge arrester need
to be appropriately specified.
Damage to the pipeline cathodic protection system (CPS) can
be avoided by limiting the pipeline induced electric potential
at the point of connection to the CPS to a voltage level that is
smaller than the maximum reverse tolerable voltage of the
CPS rectifier, which varies with the type of rectifier. If higher
voltage stresses are anticipated, surge arresters should be
installed. This analysis is usually done for the worst condition
that typically occurs during short-duration disturbances.
VI. MITIGATION METHODS
The choice of an appropriate mitigation method requires a
thorough understanding of the relevant parameters and
physical mechanisms that influence the pipeline induced
voltage levels. Besides that, it is worth to mention that some
of these mitigation techniques require special caution. For
instance, the installation of grounding points at the pipeline
can lead to corrosion problems.
A. Mitigation of the Capacitive Coupling Disturbances
The following techniques have been used:
- Reducing the electric field produced by the power line;
- Increasing the separation between power line and pipeline;
- Dividing the pipeline in several sections of smaller length;
- Grounding pipeline above-ground sections.
B. Mitigation of the Inductive Coupling Disturbances
The following techniques have been used:
- Reducing the magnetic field produced by the power line;
- Increasing the separation between power line and pipeline;

- Limiting the parallelism length between installations;
- Crossing the installations with angles near 90º.
C. Mitigation of the Conductive Coupling Disturbances
The following techniques have been used:
- Reducing the short-circuit currents injected into the ground
by the power line;
- Reducing the pipeline exposure to ground potential rise;
- Avoiding the propagation of remote potentials.
VII. SOME TYPICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
WARNING: These are some generic recommendations that
have been used in typical projects. Their application to
specific projects need to be assessed with respect to their
efficacy and consequences. Neither the Author nor Shaw
Power Technologies Inc. assume any responsibility about their
application to specific cases. Those who use these
recommendations will do this by their own risk and
responsibility.
A. Some Design Recommendations
- Try to avoid approximations between power lines and
pipelines near substations;
- Try to do crossings as far as possible from overhead line
towers (if possible, at midspan);
- Try to do approximations and crossings with angles near 90º
(the minimum crossing angle should be 60º);
- When power lines and pipelines run in parallel, try to
minimize the extension of parallelism and to increase the
distance between them;
- Try to avoid approximation between power lines and
pipelines in regions of high values of soil resistivity.
- Avoid grounding points at the pipeline;
- Reduce risks of electric shock to people by using
underground pipelines;
- When possible install shield wires on the overhead lines;
- Use unsymmetrical grounding electrodes at the towers of
the crossing span;
- When possible reduce the power line protection clearing
time;
B. Some Recommendations for Installation, Maintenance and
Operation of a Pipeline near a Power Line
- Keep minimum safety distances between the overhead line
conductors, vehicles and cranes used for the pipeline
installation;
- At the construction site, store the still not used sections of
pipeline transversally to the line direction and far from line
towers and conductors;
- Avoid maintenance services during bad weather conditions
(thunderstorms, strong winds, etc);
- Before performing pipeline maintenance services, the
electric utility shall be required to disable the power line
automatic reclosing scheme;
- Pipeline maintenance workers should avoid simultaneous
contacts between two pipeline sections that could develop a
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voltage between them. It is strongly recommended that
pipeline maintenance workers use insulating gloves and boots.
VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] Shaw Power Technologies Course Notes on
“Electromagnetic Compatibility between Power Lines
and Pipelines”, Schenectady, 2004.
[2] CIGRE Technical Brochure “Guide on the Influence of
High Voltage AC Power Systems on Metallic Pipelines”,
Paris, 1995.
[3] CIGRE Session 1986, Paper 36-07, “Experience of
CHESF Concerning Interferences between EHV
Transmission Lines and Pipelines”, Paris, 1986.
[4] CIGRE Session 1990, Paper 36-202, “Induced Effects
Caused by Overhead Transmission Lines on Metallic
Structures”, Paris, 1990.
[5] CIGRE, 2nd Latin American Regional Meeting,
“Calculation of Metallic Pipeline Electrical Parameters”,
Puerto Iguazu, 1987.
[6] 4th International Symposium on Short-Circuit Currents in
Power Systems, “Effects on Other Installations of the
Injection of Short-Circuit Currents into the Ground”,
Liege, 1990.
[7] International Symposium on Electromagnetic
Compatibility, “Electromagnetic Compatibility between
Electric Power Systems and Other Installations”, Sao
Paulo, 1994.
IX. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Jose Daconti has worked for Shaw
Power Technologies, Inc. since 2001. He
has a MSEE Honors Degree from EFEI-
Federal School of Engineering of Itajuba
(Brazil) and he is a Cornell University HHH
Fellow in the areas of Electric Power
Systems and Electric Power Quality. Since 1978, most of his
work has been concentrated in the areas of transmission line
electrical design and power system electromagnetic
compatibility. In 2000, he was nominated a CIGRE
Distinguished Member. Additionally, he is an IEEE Senior
Member and a Full Member of Sigma Xi (Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute Chapter).