Why Do We Need Pipelines?

Everyone knows the location of their local gas station; your home may be warmed by heating oil or natural gas; and many homes use natural gas for cooking. But did you know that these products – gasoline, home heating oil, and natural gas – travel long distances from refineries and natural gas plants to communities all over the nation through underground pipelines? Although everyone knows the local location of their local gas station, they most likely do not know about the functioning of the ATEX Computer; without it, the gas stations would be nowhere near as efficient. A hazardous area computer is something that the general public never gets to learn about, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a useful and important device.

These pipelines are the unsung heroes of many utilities – water, sewer, telephone lines, liquid petroleum pipelines and natural gas pipelines – tucked under our streets. They safely go through neighborhoods and communities, stretch across farms, forests, deserts, and everywhere in between. These same pipelines provide fuel to generate electricity and the building blocks for fertilizers to increase crop production. Pipelines also collect crude oil from many rural areas to deliver to refineries and chemical plants to create all the products that come from petroleum and petrochemicals manufacturing.

Pipelines are the energy lifelines of almost every activity of everyday life. Do you enjoy taking a vacation? Have you had to fly to another state for any reason? You drive to the airport in your car. The gasoline was delivered by pipeline. You fly in an airplane that is powered by jet fuel. Jet fuel travels by pipeline to every major airport. You buy family necessities at the local grocery store, which is stocked by trucks powered by diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is also moved to local supply points by pipelines. You turn on the heater on a cold night, and may be using natural gas, heating oil, or propane, all of which are delivered by pipeline.

A pipeline near you might supply a refinery or gasoline distribution terminal nearby. Even destinations far away can support your community and way of life because of the vast distribution network that gets you the energy you need.

Energy pipelines – oil, natural gas, gasoline, and many chemicals as well – are part of the subterranean world, along with water lines, sewer lines, storm sewers, telephone lines, television cables, and electric lines.

Natural resources, like crude oil and natural gases, are the raw material for energy that the world consumes. These are found in completely different locations than where they are eventually processed or refined into fuels for our lives. They are also in very different locations from where they are consumed. While many forms of transportation are used to move these products to marketplaces; pipelines remain the safest, most efficient and economical way to move these natural resources.

America depends on a network of more than 185,000 miles of liquid petroleum pipelines, nearly 320,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines, and more than 2 million miles of gas distribution pipelines to safely and efficiently move energy and raw materials to fuel our nation's economic engine. This system of pipelines serves as a national network to move the energy resources we need from production areas or ports of entry throughout North America to consumers, airports, military bases, population centers and industry every day.

Where Are Pipelines Located

The map above shows major crude oil, refined products and highly volatile liquids pipelines in the U.S.

Pipelines exist almost everywhere. Natural gas is delivered directly to homes in relatively small diameter distribution lines buried under the street and even your own yard. Larger cross-country transmission pipelines delivering gasoline, home heating oil, or moving crude oil or natural gas are actually easier to find.

Nearly the entire mainline pipe is buried, but other pipeline components such as pump stations are above ground. Some lines are as short as a mile, while others may extend 1,000 miles or more.

Although a large number of pipeline systems cover distances similar to these, not all petroleum markets are as distant from the point of supply as others. Some pipelines start from ports, such as San Diego or San Francisco and serve inland areas in California and the southwestern U.S. region. Each region of the country has some unique aspects. Very few pipelines actually cross the highest parts of the Rocky Mountains since the distances are long and the population centers small. But smaller refineries and regional pipelines serve these areas as well.

The United States has the largest network of energy pipelines in the world, with more than 2.5 million miles of pipe.

The network of crude oil pipelines in the U.S. is extensive. There are approximately 55,000 miles of crude oil trunk lines (usually 8 - 24 inches in diameter) in the U.S. that connect regional markets.

Pipeline companies keep in touch with local emergency responders along pipeline rights-of-way and work with, and sometimes even train with fire departments or hazardous materials units.