The average American uses three gallons of petroleum every day. Two of those gallons are transported via oil pipelines, which operate all day, every day, with the help of powerful pumps and dedicated pipeline operators.
Pumps driven by electric motors, diesel engines or gas turbines move the oil through pipelines connecting oil fields and refineries. These pumps are located at the beginning of a pipeline and are also located every 20 to 100 miles.
The pressure at which the oil pipeline is operated and the terrain that it travels determine the distance between pumping stations.
The pumping stations send oil through pipelines at a rate of three to eight miles per hour, depending on the pipeline’s size, operating pressure and the density and viscosity of the liquid being transported.
To complete the important task of transporting refined gasoline and fuels to local communities, pipeline companies rely on a dedicated, national work force to maintain pipeline operations.
Pipeline employees use databases, computers and scanning systems to remotely control and monitor pipeline operations. Oil pipeline control operators regulate valves and pump stations along the pipeline to ensure that the product moves through the pipeline on schedule.
Should there be any inconsistencies, the pipeline operator can immediately shut down the affected portion of the pipeline quickly and safely. Companies also have teams in the field that maintain the pipeline path and also respond to incidents.
All operators must be formally qualified to conduct their jobs. Federal regulation requires companies to set strict qualification standards for employees, including contractors and sub-contractors.
Pipeline operators protect not only the integrity of the pipeline systems, but also the communities and environments that pipelines serve.
Advances in exploration and production have helped to recover crude oil from major reserves across the globe. At the same time, demand for petroleum-based products has been increasing. Therefore, pipeline transportation is vital to ensuring the reliable and safe flow of petroleum that America depends on every day.
