Today a joint meeting of the National Technical Committee for Standardization “Equipment and Techniques of Oil and Gas Production and Refining” (TC 23) and the Interstate Technical Committee for Standardization (ITC 523) took place in Saint Petersburg as part of the 7th International Conference on Technical Regulation and Standardization “Neftegazstandart-2012”.

The meeting was held by Vlada Rusakova, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Prospective Development Department of Gazprom, Chairperson of TC 23 and ITC 523. Also present at the meeting were Alexander Zazhigalkin, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart); Andries Otter, Chairperson of the International Technical Committee ISO/TC 67 “Materials, Equipment and Offshore Structures for Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industries” as well as representatives of Russian and international standardization organizations.

The meeting paid special attention to improving the technical regulation system within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

Vlada Rusakova noted that the logic of close and mutually-beneficial cooperation, the awareness of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan that they were bound by the common strategic national interests had predetermined formation of the Customs Union. Recently, they made a step from the Customs Union to the Common Economic Space with unified laws, free circulation of goods, services and workforce.

“The Interstate Technical Committee for Standardization is a significant instrument of this integration as it is shaping a unified system of interstate standards in the oil and gas industry for the member counties of this process,” she highlighted.

Vlada Rusakova summarized the results, highlighting the MTC 523 operating prospects. Over the period of its existence the Committee has prepared a total of nine draft interstate standards. In 2012 significant increase of the paperwork is observed. This is explained by the transition of the Customs Union members to unified technical rules and regulations. At the moment, 33 draft interstate standards are at work.

In the near term, the technical regulations on Safety of Buildings, Installations, Construction Materials and Products and on Oil & Gas Trunkline Safety will be adopted within the Customs Union. Vlada Rusakova underlined that these regulations would pave the way for shaping a unified system of interstate standards that would set requirements to design, building, operation and decommissioning as well as to conformity assessment of oil & gas facilities.

The meeting also addressed and adopted 13 draft national standards elaborated by the “Gas Distribution and Consumption” sub-committee. The drafts will be submitted to Rosstandart for approval.

Background

The 7th International Conference on Technical Regulation and Standardization “Neftegazstandart-2012” takes place from September 11 to 13 in Saint Petersburg.

The Conference pursues the objective of analyzing the status of technical regulation and standardization reforms in the Customs Union member countries as well as development problems, prospects and options for Russia's oil and gas production complex within the frames of the Common Economic Space and WTO.

The Technical Committee for Standardization (TC 23) was set up in 2007 on the basis of Gazprom. TC 23 elaborates national standards in equipment and techniques for oil and gas production and refining as well as translates and harmonizes all international standards for the Russian oil and gas complex. TC 23 members cooperate on a voluntary basis. The Committee comprises 61 organizations including Russia's Energy Ministry, Ministry of Natural Resources, Emergency Ministry, Rosstandart, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Rostechnadzor, Gazprom, Rosneft, LUKOIL, TNK-BP, Surgutneftegaz, etc.

The Interstate Technical Committee for Standardization (MTC 523) was established in 2009 on the basis of Gazprom according a decision of the CIS Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification with due regard to the activities of the T 23 National Committee. The Committee is comprised of Russia, Ukraine, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan as well as Belarus and Moldova as observers. ITC 523 is focused on elaborating international standards in the oil & gas sector that are common for all of the TC member countries.