The EAC certifications for the Oil & Gas sector in the Eurasian Economic Union

The Oil & Gas sector in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) relies heavily on EAC (Eurasian Conformity) certification, which has largely replaced the older GOST R system for mandatory compliance.

For equipment used in the Oil & Gas industry, particularly those involving high pressures or hazardous environments, two Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (TR CU) are crucial:

1. TR CU 032/2013: Safety of Pressure Equipment

This regulation governs the design, manufacturing, and circulation of pressure equipment within the EAEU (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan). It is the EAEU’s counterpart to the European PED (Pressure Equipment Directive).

Key Applications in Oil & Gas:

• Vessels and Boilers: Including tanks, drums, receivers, and steam generators.
• Piping Systems: Intended to transport gases, vapors, and liquids under pressure.
• Valves and Safety Accessories: Such as safety valves, rupture discs, and monitoring devices.
• Pressure-bearing components.

Certification Procedure:

The type of conformity assessment (EAC Declaration or EAC Certificate) required is determined by the risk category of the equipment, which is calculated based on criteria like:

1. Working Pressure
2. Volume (for vessels) or Diameter (for piping)
3. Fluid Group (Group 1 for hazardous/flammable/toxic fluids; Group 2 for others)

• Low-Risk (Category 1 & 2): Typically require an EAC Declaration of Conformity.
• High-Risk (Category 3 & 4): Typically require an EAC Certificate of Conformity.

2. TR CU 012/2011: Safety of Equipment in Hazardous Environments

This regulation governs equipment intended for use in potentially explosive classified areas (HazLoc). It is the EAEU equivalent of the European ATEX Directive.

Key Applications in Oil & Gas:

• Any electrical or non-electrical equipment, devices, and components used in areas where flammable gases, vapors, or dust may create a risk of explosion.
• Examples include sensors, alarms, control units, motors, lighting, and intrinsically safe barriers installed in drilling rigs, refineries, gas processing plants, and storage facilities.

Certification Procedure:

• Conformity is confirmed with an EAC Ex Certificate (often referred to as Atex Russia). This typically involves testing by an accredited EAEU laboratory and a production site audit for serial production.
• The certificate confirms the equipment’s compliance with explosion protection requirements and allows the manufacturer to apply the EAC Ex marking.

Other Relevant EAC Regulations for Oil & Gas

Equipment used in this sector often falls under several regulations simultaneously:

• TR CU 010/2011 (Safety of Machinery and Equipment): Applies to industrial machinery, pumps, compressors, and general equipment that doesn’t operate under pressure or in HazLoc.
• TR CU 004/2011 (Low-Voltage Equipment) and TR CU 020/2011 (Electromagnetic Compatibility): These generally apply to the electrical components and control systems of the machinery.
• TR EAEU 049/2020 (Safety Requirements for Oil and Gas Pipelines): A newer regulation focusing specifically on the safety of pipelines themselves.

Important Note on EAC:

• All equipment confirmed as compliant must bear the EAC Mark on the product and/or packaging.
• The application for EAC Certification/Declaration must be made by a legal entity resident within the EAEU. Foreign manufacturers typically require a Local Representative or Importer to act on their behalf.