PREAMBLE

In recent years there has been a rapid growth in the gas pipeline construction
in this country. As the main agency responsible for the well being of the
waterways, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is particularly
concerned about the large number of gas pipeline crossings to be
constructed at the rivers, drains and canals. Inadequacy in the planning,
design or construction of these numerous gas pipeline crossings could result
in serious consequences such as occurrences of flooding due to constricted
waterways, scouring, constraint to waterway improvement or maintenance
works, disruption to irrigation and drainage services, obstructions to
navigation and others. As such, with a view to establishing uniformity for DID
state office to process such applications and to facilitate the gas pipeline
applicant in fulfilling the application requirements, the Department has
prepared a set of guidelines to assist the DID state office while processing
any application on gas pipeline crossings. These guidelines would also help
to ensure that DID's requirement during periods of construction and post
construction are met.

-1-

Guidelines on Processing of Applications

for Gas pipeline Crossing
at Rivers, Drains and Canals.
===================================================
1.

Selection of the Design Return Period

1.1

Return period for design flood computation should be based on the

Table below:

Waterway

Catchment land use

Design return period

(Years)

River

Urban
Agriculture
Forest
-

100
25
5
As per design

Drain & Canal

1.2

Rivers are improved or unimproved natural waterways of all sizes

serving as recipient of catchment runoff. In specific cases, they could
include man-made waterways such as diversion and realigned river
channels.

1.3

Drains and canals are waterways specifically designed to serve the

irrigation and drainage need of defined areas. The drains include
agricultural drains and urban drains.

1.4

Land use consideration should be based on projected condition in

consultation with the respective state government.

1.5

Catchment land use for return period selection should be based on

the predominant land use type especially area subject to flooding as
a result of pipe crossing.

1.6

The design return period of 5 years for forest land use in the table
applies only to catchments that are, or to remain, entirely forested.

-2-

2.

Hydrological and Hydraulic computation.

2.1

Design flood discharge computations should be based on relevant

Hydrological Procedures published by DID or other methods
acceptable to DID.

2.2

Hydraulic analysis can be based on Manning's Formula or equivalent

or computer models such as HEC-2.

2.3

Design flow velocity should consider soil texture and channel

alignment so as to avoid erosion of the channel body.

2.4

Bed gradient should be based on survey data or other information

appropriate for the design.

2.5

3.

Design bank slope should consider channel material.

Pipeline Position & Scour Depth.

3.1

Channel section should be designed based on design flood limiting

velocity.

3.2

Minimum earth cover for the pipe is 1.2 metres from the existing
deepest point of the waterway or from the design section, which ever
is deeper.

3.3.

The portion of the straight pipe under the waterway should be at

least the same length as the bottom width of the design channel
section.

3.4

The slope of the inclined portion of the pipe should not be steeper
than 3(H) : 1(V) or the bank slopes.

3.6

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the pipeline position and scour

depth requirements.

-3-

4.

Waterway Reserves.

4.1

The strength of the portion of the pipe within the waterway reserve
should cater for machine load necessary for waterway maintenance
works.

4.2

4.3

The recommended waterways reserves are as shown below :

Width of waterway between

banks

Width of reserve on each bank

More than 40 metres

Between 20 and 40 metres
Between 10 and 20 metres
Between 5 and 10 metres
Less than 5 metres

50 metres
40 metres
20 metres
10 metres
5 metres

Reserves requirement for drain , canal and river in built-up areas

should be determined on case by case basis.

5.

Application and Approval Processes.

As per Appendix A.

6.

General Conditions of Approval.

As per Appendix B.

-4-

Figure 1

PIPELINE POSITION & SCOUR DEPTH

REQUIREMENT

W = minimum straight pipe portion same length as bottom width

of channel section.
H:V = side slope depends on the channel material.

-5-

Appendix A

Application and Approval Process.

(1)

Application.

Applications for proposed pipeline crossing shall be submitted to the

State DID office with copies extended to the respective DID district
offices. The submission to each office shall contain 2 sets of A1
sized plans and 1 set of text and calculation.

(2)

Documents and Information to be submitted.

2.1

General Information containing:

(a)

Background of project.

(b)

A key plan with a scale of 1 : 25 000 or

1 : 50 000

showing the pipeline route and locations of proposed

crossings.
(c)

Pipeline details type, size and other properties.

(d)

List of the proposed crossings containing the reference

numbers, locations, name of streams, brief description of the
site and proposed methods of construction.

2.2

(e)

Schedule of implementation.

(f)

Draft emergency response procedures.

Details of pipeline crossing.

The following information shall be submitted for each proposed
crossing.

-6-

(a)

Plan of catchment area at the pipeline crossing with an

appropriate scale, indicating the catchment boundary and
land use type. (projected if necessary.)

(b)

Site plan with a scale of 1 : 2000 showing:m

The north point.

The pipeline position.

The

stream

alignment

extending

300

metres

upstream and 300 metres downstream of the

crossing or any other distance as required by DID.
m

Other relevant site details such as lot boundaries,

structures, buildings, ground levels etc.

(c)

Longitudinal and cross sectional plans for the portion of river

as specified in (2.2b) above. Apart from the need to provide
the cross sectional survey at the pipeline crossing, the
applicant may be required to carry out additional surveys as
follows:m

The longitudinal section showing the profile of the

existing bed and banks with spot levels taken at
intervals of 50 metres. The proposed bed and energy
gradients shall be indicated in this plan.

The cross sectional plans showing the existing

section of the waterway at intervals of 50 metres or
any other intervals as required by DID. The plans
shall also show the existing waterway, the designed
waterway section, the position of the pipeline and
other relevant details.

-7-

(d)

Hydrological and Hydraulic calculations - prepared by a

professional engineer registered with the Board of Engineers
Malaysia. The basis of the computations should be
presented in the submission.

(e)

Design - The design should allow for DID maintenance

works, including the use of heavy machineries and
equipment, to be carried out unimpeded in the vicinity of the
crossing.

(f)

Construction plan - The applicant shall outline the

construction methods and ensure that :
m

Status-quo of irrigation and drainage requirement is

maintained during the construction period.

Adequate drainage flow capacity of the river is

maintained during the construction period.

Excavation works should not endanger any adjacent

properties, structures or buildings.

Temporary works (e.g. Coffer dam) should take into

account the possible fluctuation of water level in the
waterway.

(3)

Approval.

The applicant shall be informed by DID within a reasonable time period from
the date of submission as to whether:

(a)

The proposals are acceptable where upon the general

conditions of approval (see Appendix B) are also furnished.

(b)

The proposals are inadequate and additional information or

amendment are needed.

-8-

(c)

The proposals are not acceptable and alternative proposals

are necessary.

Appendix B

General Conditions of Approval.

Notwithstanding other conditions of approval, the followings are some of the

obligations of the applicant in the implementation of pipeline crossing works.

(1)

Inspection.

(a)

The applicant shall inform the respective DID District Engineer before
commencing work on any crossing.

(b)

DID shall be provided with facilities (transport, guides etc.) to visit the
site during construction.

(c)

The applicant shall arrange with the DID District Engineer for a joint
inspection of the site upon completion of construction works.

(2)

Reinstatement works.

The applicant shall be responsible to reinstate and make good all damages
to the waterway banks and reserves arising from the gas pipeline
construction works to the satisfaction of DID. Photographic records of the
site before and after works are to be taken and submitted by the applicant.

(3)

As-built Plans.

The applicant shall submit 2 sets of 'as-built' plans of each of the following
upon completion of the works.

-9-

a.

Details of each pipeline crossing.

b.

The pipeline alignment within the State boundaries plotted on

cadastral or revenue sheets.

(4)

Markers.

Markers shall be fixed at the edges of the reserves to indicate the location,
depth and reduced level of the pipeline.

(5)

Emergency Procedures.

The applicant shall provide DID with the following upon completion of works:

a.

Final Emergency Procedure.

b.

Listing of all emergency and routine telephone numbers,

personnel position and office locations of the staff
responsible for the pipeline.

c.

Details of applicant's routine inspection program for those

waterways deemed necessary by DID.

(6)

Operation and Maintenance.

a.

The gas pipeline to be constructed in the vicinity of DID

structures shall be kept away at a distance such that no
significant interference to the structures will arise due to
erosion, siltation and vibration.

b.

No encroachment which may inhibit access or make

maintenance unduly difficult shall be allowed on the
reserves.

c.

The length of the pipe laid within the waterway reserve

should be able to take the loading equivalent to RB 38(40

-10-

tons) or standard HA loading where applicable.

d.

Prominent indicators are to be installed and maintained on

both sides of the waterway at the reserve boundary to
indicate the pipeline crossing.

(7)

Removal or Shifting of pipeline.

The applicant or pipeline owner should at his own expense remove or shift
the pipeline should the government require the use of the site for any public
purpose in the future.

-11-