Philosophy for Access and Egress

Roads

A1

July, 02
2007

Rev.
No.

Date

Issued for Comment / Approval

St. Balanescu

S. Ilie

M. Doloszeski

Prepared

Checked

Approved

Description

Originator
Document Title: Philosophy for Access and Egress Roads

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Document Number: EP CS 01 PH

Engineering & Maintenance

Department

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Authors

5
4
3
2
1
No.

Stefan Radu Balanescu

Engineering & Projects Division

Surface Engineering & Maintenance Dpt.
DIVISION
Department

Name

Signature

Document Title: Authors

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Department

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Philosophy for Access and Egress Roads

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.

GENERAL........................................................................................................................ 4

1.1

General statement of principles ................................................................................... 4

2.

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 4

2.1

References laws, orders, standards, normatives...................................................... 4

2.2

Standard references ...................................................................................................... 5

2.3

Standard and Normativs PETROM............................................................................... 7

3.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF OIL FIELD ROADS .............................................. 7

3.1

General Statement of design principles ...................................................................... 7

3.2

Traffic description.......................................................................................................... 8

3.3

Road route alignment.................................................................................................... 8

3.3.1

Statement of design principles................................................................................. 8

3.3.2

Safety distances to adjacent elements..................................................................... 9

3.3.3

Road safety zone ....................................................................................................... 9

3.4

Horizontal route alignment......................................................................................... 10

3.4.1

Horizontal road geometry ....................................................................................... 10

3.4.2

Road width .............................................................................................................. 10

3.4.3

Clearance ................................................................................................................. 11

3.4.4

Intersections ............................................................................................................ 11

3.4.5

Undercrossing and overcrossing ........................................................................... 12

Undercrossing.............................................................................................................. 12
Overcrossing ................................................................................................................ 12

3.4.6

Guardrails ................................................................................................................ 13

3.4.7

Vertical route alignment ......................................................................................... 13

3.4.8

Road superstructure................................................................................................ 14

3.4.9

Water discharge ...................................................................................................... 15

Collecting and discharging rain water ........................................................................ 15

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1.

GENERAL

1.1 General statement of principles

This Philosophy sets out the minimum Company requirements for Access and Egress
Roads used for the exploitation and maintenance works at the crude oil and gas
production branches of the Trading Company PETROM S.A.
The Philosophy is carried out in conformity with the requirements, as per Law no. 10/1995
and other specific requirements of the constructions quality system, to provide and
maintain on the entire service life the quality standards of resistance and stability,
exploitation safety, fire safety, hygiene, peoples health, environment reconstruction and
protection.
This standard provisions do not apply to public or other purposes roads (social, industrial,
forestry, agriculture, traveling).
Access and Egress Roads will be located in conformity with the local planning sketches,
and will be designed, to provide connections to the ancillaries, production, social and
administrative buildings related to oil field activities.
Local oil field roads will be designed, to meet the road transportation demands of all the
oil field units located in the respective area and to provide the connection between the oil
field area and public roads.
The oil field roads will be designed at the highest traffic intensity resulting from:
-

future technological traffic considered at final transport capacity of the crude oil and
gas production branch of S.C. PETROM SA.;

site traffic during construction works;

traffic resulting from other related local activities.

Implementing the Philosophy will be made with respect for Romanian valid Laws,
Orders, Normative and Regulations, as mentioned below. The enumeration is not
exhaustive and limitative.
2.

REFERENCES

2.1 References laws, orders, standards, normatives

The requirements below are mandatory for the design, construction, and maintenance
of PETROM SA oil field Access and Egress Roads :
Law 10/1995

- Regarding quality requirements in constructions and

application regulations of this law

Law no. 82/1998

- For the approval of the Governmental Order no. 43/1997

regarding the legal regime of roads

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Law no. 137/1995

- Regarding environmental protection

Law no. 90/1996

- Labour protection

OG 273/1994

- For the approval of the regulations related to the

acceptance of the construction works and installations
- The Law for authorizing of construction works

Law 107/1996

- Law of waters

OG 766/1997

- For the approval of construction works quality regulations

MFP and MLPTL

Order no.
1013/873/2001

- Regarding the tender offer procedures for public acquisition

of services

NPGM/2002

- General labour protection norms. Regulations regarding

labour protection and hygiene of construction works
- Fire prevention and fire fighting norms: fire fighting
equipment

2.2 Standard references

Standards relevant for the design of oil field roads:
STAS 863-85

- Road works. Geometry of route alignment. Design

requirements

STAS 2900-79

- Road works. Road width

C 79-80

- Normative for the design, construction and acceptance of

industrial roads

PD 67-80

- Departmental normative regarding the design of forestry

roads for vehicle traffic

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Order of Ministry of

- Technical norms for the design and upgrading of roads

Transports no.
45/1998
Order of Ministry of

- Technical norms regarding environmental protection

against road effects

Transports no.
44/1998
STAS 1243/88

- Foundation ground. Classification and identification of soils

STAS 2914/84

- Road works. Earthworks. General quality requirements

STAS 2916-87

- Slope and ditch protection

STAS 1709/2

- Freeze and thaw effect on road works. Prevention and

remedy of damages by freeze and thaw. Technical
requirements

PD 177-2001

- Normative for dimensioning flexible and semirigid

pavements (analytical method)

AND 550-99

- Normative for dimensioning reinforcement asphalt paving

of flexible and semirigid pavement (analytical method)

STAS 10796/1-77

- Ancillary construction works of water collection and

discharge. General design statement.

STAS 10796/2-79

- Ancillary construction works of water collection and

discharge. Gutters, ditches and downchutes. General design
and construction specifications

STAS 10796/3-88

- Water collection works. Dewatering drains. Design and

location requirements

STAS 2914-84

- Earthworks. General technical quality requirements (Chp. 5.

Water discharge ditches and gutters)

STAS 4273-83

- Hydro technical constructions. Categories of construction

works importance

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STAS 9470-73

- Maximum rainfall frequency

STAS 2916-87

- Slope and ditch protection

2.3 Standard and Normatives PETROM

The requirements of the normatives below are also mandatory:
PETROM Firm
Standard / 2006

- Company standard regarding design, construction,

exploitation, maintenance and repair of oil field roads at
crude oil and gas production branches of S.C. PETROM S.A
issued by IPTANA SA

PETROM Labor
Protection Norms

- Labour protection departmental norms in the domain of

road, water and air transportation

PETROM Norms

- General fire safety norms relevant for the design and

execution of constructions and installations, fire safety
departmental normatives that are currently applied by
PETROM

And all current technical requirements for roads, provided they do not contradict this
Philosophy.
Note
Company standard regarding design, construction, exploitation, maintenance and
repair of oil field roads at crude oil and gas production branches of S.C. PETROM S.A
issued by IPTANA SA, is like a Technical Settlement that provide technical conditions,
either directly, or by reference to an other standard, or a technical specification, or a good
practice code. All PETROM units shall use this standard in their activities regarding the
design, construction, exploitation, maintenance and repair of oil field roads.

By convention this standard will be named in this Philosophy PETROM Standard.

The laws, orders, standards, normatives (STAS, SR and SR EN), norms, regulations,
legislations, which are basis for all activities related to oil field roads are detailed in Annex
9 of the PETROM Standard.
3.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF OIL FIELD ROADS

3.1 General Statement of design principles

The assessment of the oil field roads category of importance shall be performed in
accordance with the requirements, as per the Regulations regarding the assessment of

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constructions category of importance issued by INCERC (Constructions Bulletin no.

4/1996).
Oil field roads have been classified into several types of roads, such as: axial roads
(collector roads, main roads) and access roads leading to oil field works locations (oil
wells, parks, compressors stations, etc.) and other locations (premises, social buildings).
Axial roads or access roads are differently defined, in point of geometry and construction,
depending on their economic relevance that is function of the exploitation period, the
mean annual traffic and the design speed.
The design speed, which is used to determine the geometry and construction features of
the oil field roads, is determined function of the land morphology and the prospective
mean annual traffic, and means the maximum speed attained by trucks without trailer on
the most difficult road sectors, under total traffic safety conditions, good pavement and
favorable weather conditions.
The design speed values and the technical characteristics are not restrictive; highest
design speed values and wide geometry elements must be adopted, provided the cost of
the investment is not to be significantly increased.

3.2 Traffic description

Local oil field roads must accommodate permanent and long term access of vehicles,
installations, cranes, trailers and other mobile equipment, such as snow ploughs, fire
extinguishers and other emergency vehicles to all the oil field locations.
For heavy duty convoys trafficking on the oil field roads and exceeding the normal width
(over 2.50 m), over 5.00 m in height, with convoy length over 22 m (STAS 863-85), and
axle loads higher than estimated design loads, special projects will be set up, subject to
approval of PETROM, the Police and the public roads Authorities (if these are to traffic on
public roads also).
For the purpose of road and bridge design, the designer together with the beneficiary
(PETROM) shall determine the prospective road traffic (for the period of construction
works and 10 to 15 years service life), by vehicle categories (per day), axle loading etc.

3.3 Road route alignment

3.3.1 Statement of design principles
The land requirement boundaries that accommodate the route of oil field roads must
avoid as far as possible agriculture land, forests, etc. for the low potential land areas.
It is recommended to select areas with adequate soil stratification and good exposure to
sun and wind, which require small volume of bridge, protection and consolidation works.
The route alignment shall be adapted to ground peculiarities, to reduce the volume of
earthworks and road structures.

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River crossings will be designed under normal configuration, in the narrowest valley
areas.
In all cases, the final solution must be based on the technical and economic assessment
of different alternatives.
3.3.2 Safety distances to adjacent elements
From the closest margin of the carriageway and fixed adjacent elements, the following are
minimum safety distances that must be applied:
-

to fences and buildings - 5.25 m (shoulder 1.50 m + guardrail 0.75 m + ditch 1.50 m +
side walk 1.50 m)

to the railway axis - 20 m (Emergency Governmental Order no. 12/7 July 1998
regarding the Romanian railway transport and reorganization of the Romanian
Railways Society)

In curves, visibility must be provided by widening.

In the case of cutting and embankment roads, the minimum distances shall be those
mentioned under 3.3.3., for safety areas.
3.3.3 Road safety zone
Road safety zone shall be according to the Governmental Order 43/1997 published in
Official Bulletin of Romania, part I, no. 541/1.IX.2001)
The area of the oil field road contains: territory, safety zones and protection zones.
The road territory means the land area occupied by the road construction elements:
carriageway, shoulders, ditches, gutters, slopes, guard ditches, retaining walls and other
road structures.
The safety zones means the land areas located on both sides of the road territory,
exclusively used for traffic signing, road green area, maintenance and exploitation related
activities, for traffic safety and protection of landowners located in the road area. The
safety areas also include the land areas used to provide visibility in curves and
intersections, as well as the areas of the roadbed consolidation works.
Outside localities, minimum limits of the road safety zones in current carriageway and in
alignment are provided in Annex 1 of the Governmental Order no. 43/97, that is:
The safety zones are located from the outer limit of the road territory up to:

1.50 m from the outer margin of ditches, for the roads located at ground level;

2.00 m from the slope toe, for the roads in embankment;

3.00 m from the top of the road slope in cutting, with height up to 5.00m inclusive;

5.00 m from the top of the road slope in cuttings higher than 5.00 m.
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Protection zones means land areas located on both sides of the safety areas, necessary
for future road protection and development. The protection land limits are between the
exterior margins of the safety zones and the road zone margins.
The distance from the road axis to the exterior margin of the oil field road zone, which is
also current village road, is 18 m.

3.4 Horizontal route alignment

3.4.1 Horizontal road geometry
Specific elements of horizontal road geometry have been considered:
-

aliniaments

curves, curves radius, respectively

The road geometry is to be set up, either directly, according to current regulations, or by
calculation based on parameters indicated in these regulations.
Prospective traffic intensity is of utmost relevance in establishing design, (reference)
speed.
Oil field roads design speed is 10 to 50 km/hour and it will be calculated for different road
categories, depending on the local relief.
The design speed shall be selected function of the road category and the local relief:
All technical information regarding the horizontal road geometry and how are calculated
and used all specific parameters shall be according with the PETROM Standard (see
Section 3).
3.4.2 Road width
The cross section represents the intersection of the road corpus and the surface of the
natural ground with a vertical plan, normal on the road axis.
The cross sections contain elements of road infrastructure construction, such as:
dimensions, slope levels, road platform width, carriageway, turning areas, characteristic
features of road structures and water drainage devices etc.
The road platform consists of the consolidated central part for traffic that is the
carriageway, partially or totally consolidated shoulders (framing lanes), water discharge
areas, guardrail areas etc.
Width of component platform elements is to be determined function of the traffic intensity
on the respective road.
The width of current vehicles varies from 1.70 to 2.00 m for cars and 2.25 to 2.90 m for
trucks and buses (generally 2.50 m).
Usually, the minimum traffic lane width must be 3.00 m.

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In the case of intense traffic roads and high traffic speed (40-60 km/h) the required width
is 3.50 m.
The oil field roads usually accommodate what is called low traffic (750-3500 physical
vehicles in 24 hours); these are roads with two traffic lanes of minimum 6.00 m
carriageway width and 8.00 m platform.
When required (traffic, servicing and other social and economic objectives) the oil field
road carriageway will be 7.00 m and the platform 9.00 m.
For short time access, one lane roads may be provided. These can be carried out on
sections with minimum 150 m visibility and conditions for stop and leave (4-5% maximum
gradient) in areas arranged for intersection.
The intersection stations have 5.50 to 6.00 m wide carriageways (traffic lane included), 15
to 20 m minimum in length; they are to be designed considering necessary visibility, but
not longer than 300 to 400 m (to be located generally on the right side, in idle travel
direction).
The platform and the carriageway shall be provided by construction with:
-

crest with two slopes in alignment and in curves with radii longer than recommended

slope in curves that need conversion or superelevation, in the case of one traffic lane
roads and hill roads, where the gradient is provided towards the flank, to avoid
vehicles sliding into valley.

Crest slopes may be: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6%, depending on the carriageway paving and the
spatial arrangement of curves (superelevation).
3.4.3 Clearance
The maximum clearance necessary for vehicle trafficking is equal to the width of the road
platform (carriageway and shoulders STAS 2900-89) and the free height 5.00 m (Order of
Transport Ministry no.. 45/27.01.98).
3.4.4 Intersections
Intersections of oil field roads shall be designed considering the traffic intensity and the
type of future traffic on intersecting roads.
The road intersections design consists in:

determining intersection dimensions

providing visibility

determining location and dimensions of pedestrian crossings

placing the traffic signs

providing water drainage

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Connection of carriageway shall be provided by arcs with minimum radius of 8-12 m (at
kerb). The minimum radius shall only be used in difficult cases, providing the traffic lane
width, including the respective superelevation.
Intersections at grade with railways will be designed in areas with adequate road and
railway visibility, with arrangement and signing, as per SR 1244-1:1996; SR 1244-2:2004
and STAS 1244-3-90. In the area of the grade passage, it is recommended that the railway
route alignment should be in alignment.
The intersection angle of the oil field road axis with the railway axis shall be if practically
possible 900, with the minimum allowable crossing angle of 450, and 300 in exceptional
cases.
Intersections of oil roads with the railways or other public roads will be provided at grade
difference, based on a Feasibility Study that shows the efficiency of the grade difference,
subject to approval of S.C. PETROM S.A. and the railway and road authorities.
3.4.5 Undercrossing and overcrossing
Undercrossing
The route of aerial lines and underground services (water, thermal power supply, sewage,
gas supply etc.) shall pass under the road, as much as possible at right angles, while
providing necessary relocation of utilities, in conformity with the design prescriptions of
the respective installations.
Overcrossing
The minimum clearance must be provided of 5.00 m over the carriageway, shoulders and
ditches of oil field roads. This clearance shall be observed in the case of all aerial lines,
passages and bridges crossing the road.
At oil field roads crossing by the aerial and telecommunication installations, the following
free height shall be provided, from the lowest point of the electrical line to the highest
point of the carriageway:

6.00 m for the telecommunications and low voltage electrical lines (below 0.4 kV); (PE
106/1995 - 7.00 m for county roads)

7.00 m for the electrical lines up to 110 kV inclusive;

8.00 m for the electrical lines of 220 kV;

9.00 m for the electrical lines of 400 kV.

At crossings and in the vicinity of aerial lines, security and protection measures shall be
provided on oil field roads, according to the requirements, as per Normative for the
construction of power supply aerial lines over 1000 V - NTE 003/04/00 (For voltage below
0.4 kV: Normative PE 106/1995).

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3.4.6 Guardrails
To increase traffic safety on roads, guardrails shall be mounted in hazard areas.
Guardrails are usually mounted outside the platform width.
In special cases, to reduce the cost of works, the guardrails can be mounted in the
shoulder area (Order of the Ministry of Transport, Constructions and Tourism, no.
45/1998).
Guardrails will be placed according to the requirements, as per STAS 1948/1-91 on roads
and STAS 1948/2-1995 on ramps and bridges.
It is recommended that guardrails be mounted on oil field roads, irrespective of the road
pavement system, in dangerous areas.
The oil field roads belong to the technical classes III to V, function of traffic intensity
(Order of the Ministry of Transport no. 46/1998).
When practically applying the respective requirements, the recommendation should be
observed that semi heavy guardrails must be provided instead of light ones and heavy
guardrails instead of semi heavy ones, when the vehicles with service load over 50 kN
represent at least 15% of the prospective traffic.
3.4.7 Vertical route alignment
The longitudinal profile is the projection spread out on the vertical plan, of the
intersection between the surface area generated by the vertical lines of the road axis with
the natural ground area and the platform area.
The projection of the intersection with the ground area is an irregular line and it is called
the ground line, or the black line.
The projection of the intersection with the platform area has been termed the project line
or the red line.
The carriageway crossfall depends on the type of pavement and is in alignment 2 to 4%
(2% cement concrete SR 183-1:1995; 2.5% asphalt SR 174-1:2002; 3% macadam STAS
1120:1995; hard-core road with ballast or crushed stone 3-4%, AND 582-2002 - Stone
paving of earth roads).
To avoid skidding in curves with smaller radius than recommended, the profile will be
converted from crest (dome) shape to single slope eaves directed towards the interior of
the curve, with the crossfall equal to the alignment slope. In the case of curves with
smaller radii, (between minimum-exceptional and current radii) carriageway
superelevation shall be provided by using a steeper crossfall.
The maximum allowed superelevation is 7% in the case of car traffic and 6% in the case of
combined traffic, or in areas with frequent glaze formation. Oil field roads will have the
maximum crossfall of 6%.

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All technical information regarding the vertical route alignment and how are calculated
and used all specific parameters shall be according with the PETROM Standard (see
Section 4).
3.4.8 Road superstructure
Road pavement (pavement systems) are:
-

Flexible pavement:

a) Crushed stone and ballast

b) Asphalt, crushed stone and ballast
-

Semirigid pavement:

a) Stabilized layers, crushed stone and ballast

b) Asphalt, stabilized layers, crushed stone and ballast
-

Rigid pavement:

Cement concrete, stabilized layer, (crushed stone) and ballast

Dimensioning methods of flexible and semirigid pavement systems are based on the
following principles:
-

reduction of the fatigue damage of asphalt structures and aggregate layers stabilized
with hydraulic and puzzolanic binders;

reduction of the permanent deformation of the road pavement support (roadbed).

Rigid pavements will be dimensioned in accordance with the technical class of the road
(Order of Ministry of Transport, Construction and Tourism no. 46 of 27 January 1998 for
public roads).
Pavement systems that are recommended for oil field roads:
a) Earth roads
-

pavement systems of soil and stabilized soil with granular materials or chemical
substances

b) Hard core roads

-

pavements of simple hard cores provided in one or two layers (SR 662-02; SR 667-01;
STAS 6400-84)

pavements with macadam paving

c) Roads with asphalt wearing courses

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pavements with protected macadam - asphalt macadam

pavements with permanent asphalt, or cement concrete wearing courses

Detailed technical criteria regarding the road pavement determination, verification of

pavement behavior at freeze and thaw are presented in the PETROM Standard (see
Section 5).
3.4.9 Water discharge
Collecting and discharging rain water
Road water collection and discharge works aim at avoiding:
-

road corpus damage;

depreciation of subgrade bearing capacity;

damage of riparian land by water staying, streaming, swamping, delayed discharge,

etc.

Road water collection and discharge will be provided by gutters, ditches and downchutes.
Several such works are mentioned below (STAS 10796/2-79):
- Gutters at the edge of platform;
- Shoulder gutter with paved section, or paved and trafficable section
- Ditches at the edge of platform with:

Unprotected section;

Protected section (revetment)

Downchutes for discharge of shoulder gutter for embankments over 1.50 m.

Design of gutters, ditches and downchutes will be provided in conformity with the
requirements, as per STAS 10796/2-79, considering the rainwater outflow capacity, the
ground morphology and the geometry of these works.
Ditch dimensions and shapes (deltoid, V-shaped etc.) are to be established from case to
case, function of relief, water flow and velocity, ground morphology, construction
technology, traffic conditions, to avoid accidents, in conformity with the requirements, as
per STAS 10.796/2-79.
When the rainwater flow resulting from adjacent land areas of the road (cutting slopes,
depressions etc.) exceeds the capacity of current discharge devices, or endangers road
slopes, guard ditches will be provided.
Guard ditches at roads located in combined profile, or cutting will be located at minimum
5.00 m from the cutting slope edge.

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Detailed technical criteria regarding the water discharge, the guard ditches or other rain
water collection and discharge devices are presented in the PETROM Standard (see
Section 6).

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