Various kinds of pipelines
Liquid energy pipelines and gas pipelines are the two main categories of energy pipelines.
With its highly integrated transmission and distribution system, the U.S. pipeline network can deliver energy products to and from almost any place in Alaska and the lower 48 states. In the United States, there are around 230,000 miles of liquids pipelines and over 2.6 million miles of natural gas pipelines. From 2016 to 2022, pipeline distance and barrel deliveries increased significantly, yet overall incidents and events that affected people and the environment decreased. Read more about pipeline services by visiting our website and if you have any questions related to this topic, connect with us.
Crude oil, carbon dioxide, natural gas liquids, and refined goods can all be transported via pipes in the liquid pipeline network. Gathering lines and transmission lines are the two categories of crude oil pipelines.
Collecting Lines
Crude oil or natural gas is transported from the production site (the wellhead) to a central collecting point via gathering lines, which are extremely tiny pipes with a diameter of typically 2 to 12 inches that function at relatively low pressures and flow rates.
Unrefined Pipelines
Larger (often 12 to 24 inches in diameter) cross-country crude oil transmission pipelines, also known as trunk lines, move crude oil from producing regions to refineries. In the United States, regional markets are connected by crude oil system lines that span around 84,000 miles. In the United States, there are also a few very big trunk lines, such as the 48-inch-diameter Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Improved Product Development Processes
Refined petroleum products such as diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and home heating oil are transported via refined product pipelines. The diameter of these pipes ranges from a very tiny 12 inches to a significantly bigger 42 inches. The country’s refined product pipelines span over 64,000 kilometers.
Petroleum products are transported by product pipelines to sizable fuel terminals, where they are stored in tanks before being loaded onto tanker trucks. Local deliveries to houses and petrol stations are made by trucks, which travel the final few miles. Pipelines supply refined goods straight to major companies, airports, and electrical power producing units.
Pipelines for Natural Gas Liquids (NGL)
Propylene, propane, ethane, and liquified gas—all of which are often utilized in manufacturing—are transported via NGL pipelines. Many contemporary conveniences, such as the widespread use of propane for home heating and ethane as a raw material for plastics, are powered by these products. There are more than 75,000 miles of these pipelines in the United States, and their diameters likewise vary.
Pipelines for Carbon Dioxide
Additionally, pipelines can transport carbon dioxide from capturing regions to locations for storage or use, such as aquifers or depleted reservoirs. The United States has more than 5,300 miles of carbon dioxide pipelines, most of which are located in the Southwest and Gulf Coast areas. With a proven track record of performance and no deaths linked to CO2 pipeline transportation, CO2 pipelines have been successfully functioning in the United States for more than 50 years. To satisfy energy and environmental needs in the ensuing decades, our country’s energy transition may necessitate the expansion of low-carbon energy infrastructure, such as carbon dioxide pipelines.
Pipelines for Gas
The structure of natural gas pipeline systems differs slightly from that of liquid pipeline systems. Distribution pipes carry natural gas straight to homes and businesses. When natural gas is generated, natural gas liquids (NGL) may be present. To prepare the natural gas stream for sale, processors filter out pollutants, water, and NGLs.
When hydrogen is carried through pipes, regulators define it as a gas. Regulators in California have imposed a 20% hydrogen mix limit, after which pipelines must modify coatings, compressors, and other components to prevent leaks and pipeline embrittlement.
NGLs and natural gas need different pipeline infrastructures to get to their final consumers. There are more than 300,000 miles of transmission pipeline and more than 2.3 million miles of natural gas distribution pipeline.
Commissioning: What is it?
Before being commissioned or put into service, pipelines must pass a battery of tests following construction. During this “pre-commissioning” stage, the pipeline may be cleaned to get rid of any debris and hydrotested, which involves filling the pipeline with water at a pressure higher than its typical operating pressure to find leaks. Additionally, pipeline coatings are examined.
Pumps, storage tanks, and other related equipment are components of pipeline systems, which are necessary for pipeline operation. In order to properly increase internal pipeline pressure and maintain the flow of crude oil and other liquids via the pipeline system, pump stations are positioned strategically along the pipeline. Compressor stations are positioned at regular intervals in gas pipeline networks to ensure that the gas flows smoothly to its final destination. Shipped goods can be temporarily stored and/or received in storage tanks at either end of the liquid pipeline.
Batching: what is it?
Numerous pipelines carrying liquid petroleum carry a variety of goods. The pipeline operator does this by sending various goods in “batches.” An operator may, for instance, supply gasoline for a few hours before switching to jet fuel and finally diesel fuel. Scheduling is the method used to follow the customer’s batch or product along the pipeline. A ticket that details the commodity’s nature, quantity, origin and destination, and owner is displayed when the goods has been scheduled and transported.