For most people, the term "pipeline" is associated with water supply and gas supply systems, through which water and household gas are delivered to residential buildings. However, besides the well-known pipelines familiar to everyone, there are pipelines designed for the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products, and gas – main pipeline transport. They are usually hidden underground or underwater.

Transportation of oil, petroleum products, and gas by road, rail, or water transport over long distances involves certain risk and significant material costs. Main pipelines simplify the transportation of raw materials from the places of extraction to the end consumers.

In order to ensure industrial and environmental safety

On main pipelines intended for the transportation of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, in accordance with the Regulation on the Procedure for Establishing Protection Zones of Main Pipelines, their dimensions and regime of use (approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of November 21, 2022 No. 800), the operator establishes a protection zone with respect to:

• a main pipeline transporting product – on a land plot enclosed between parallel planes at a distance of not less than 50 meters on each side from the axis of the main pipeline;
• two or more main pipelines transporting product laid in a single technical corridor – on a land plot enclosed between parallel planes at a distance of not less than 50 meters on each side from the axis of the outermost main pipeline on each side of the technical corridor;
• an underwater crossing of main pipelines – on a water area section from the water surface to the bottom, enclosed between parallel planes at a distance of not less than 100 meters from the axis of the outermost pipelines on each side;
• a pumping (transfer), compressor, gas distribution, gas metering station, gas cooling station, liquid hydrocarbon transshipment facility of a main pipeline, tank farm of main pipeline facilities, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon metering unit, liquid hydrocarbon receipt and delivery points, oil heating points, loading or unloading trestle, area with a compressor station at an underground gaseous hydrocarbon storage facility – on a land plot bounded by a closed line at a distance of not less than 100 meters from the boundary of the relevant facility's territory in all directions;
• condensate storage and degassing tanks, earthen barn for emergency discharge of liquid hydrocarbons – on a land plot bounded by a closed line at a distance of

Identification posts 1.5–2 meters high with an information plate are installed by the operator on the axis of the main pipeline:

• on straight sections of the route within visibility, but not less frequently than every 500 meters;
• at the turning angles of the main pipeline (three posts);
• at the locations where the main pipeline crosses other above-ground and underground utilities;
• at the locations where the main pipeline passes over water obstacles, ravines, channels;
• at the locations of repair and restoration work;
• to mark the locations of test pits, washouts, and exposures of the main pipeline.

On multi-string main pipelines, each string must be marked.

At the locations where the main pipeline crosses roads of all categories, according to the operator's information, the road owner installs and operates road signs prohibiting stopping of vehicles.

Any work and actions in the protection zones of main pipelines are carried out in accordance with legislation on main pipeline transport.

In protection zones, the following are prohibited:

• moving, burying, or damaging identification and warning signs, control and measurement points, or constructing any buildings or structures not related to the main pipeline;
• entering the territory or opening hatches, gates, and doors of unmanned amplifier points for cable communication lines, block boxes of telematics systems, fences of linear valve units, radio relay stations, cathodic and drainage protection stations, linear and inspection wells, and other linear devices, buildings, and structures of main pipelines, or opening and closing valves and gates, or disconnecting or connecting power supply and telematics systems for main pipelines;
• creating landfills or dumping solutions of acids, salts, and alkalis;
• destroying bank reinforcement structures, water passage devices, earth structures, or other structures (devices) that protect main pipelines from destruction, or the adjacent territory and surrounding area from accidental spills of transported products;
• dropping anchors, passing with anchors deployed, chains, trawls, and nets, or conducting dredging and soil-removal work;
• starting fires or placing open or closed sources of fire;
• conducting unauthorized excavations and earthworks, or performing actions that could disrupt the operation of main pipelines, their technological communication and telematics systems, or lead to their damage;
• creating recreational areas, tourist campsites and camps, public transport stops, wind energy installations, transport interchanges, or industrial gardens;
• storing feed, fertilizers, materials, hay, and straw, sawn and stump wood, hitching posts, keeping livestock, allocating fishing areas, or conducting fishing activities.