Transporting crude oil through pipelines is the second main channels of transporting petroleum from production points to refineries. Although a bit expensive, it is useful in transporting petroleum through shallow waters and creeks that are not accessible to vessels.
What are the benefits of transporting crude oil through pipelines? Alternatively, what are the limitations of transporting crude oil through pipelines? This article will answer these two questions and a few others.
What is pipeline transportation?
Pipeline transportation is the movement of crude oil, petroleum products and other liquids from one place to another through hollow pipes. It aids the transfer of crude oil from the wellhead to a processing plant, refinery and tanker loading facilities.
Reasons for Transporting Crude Oil Through Pipelines
For some reasons, transporting crude oil through pipelines in some locations is necessary.
Use of pipelines may be for safety purposes: Transporting oil and other liquids through a pipe is safe and convenient. It is an ideal means of transporting crude oil directly to refineries without hitches. Also, it is more environment friendly provided operators give them proper maintenance and prevent them from rupturing.
Furthermore, it has low carbon effect. Except for natural disaster or deliberate act of vandalism, transporting oil through pipelines is environment friendly.
It is ideal for bulk carriage: Pipelines can transport large volumes of crude oil and other petroleum products from producers to consumers. Generally, it can pump several million barrels of oil daily, which brings about time-saving.
It is devoid of human labour and time-saving as well: Pipeline transportation consumes less energy than that of trucks and trains. You don’t need to connect or disconnect hoses when transporting crude oil through pipelines. Also, it requires less number of labour to transport petroleum products through pipelines.
Transporting crude oil via pipelines offers convenience: Another reason for pipeline transport is convenience. It is easy to ship several barrels of oil to a refinery without having to worry about logistics. Also, you do not need to worry about how to sustain the flow pressure when pumping cargo gets to the end-users.
Rig Location: The location of your oil rig is also a determinant of whether pipelines would serve better or not. Generally, if your offshore platform is in shallow waters, the best means of transporting petroleum from there to loading terminals or refinery is pipelines.
Advantages of Pipeline Transportation
Some few advantages of pipeline transportation include cost-effectiveness, reliability, even distribution of products, promotion of safety, and near-zero mechanical disruption. Let us get started.
Pipeline transportation is cost-effective: Pipeline transportation reduces cost reason being that its operational running expenses are low compare to rail transport. Additionally, it requires less energy consumption to transport oil from production point to consumers.
Pipeline transport is a reliable means of cargo transfer: Pipeline transportation is safe and dependable. It is stress-free and does not experience the barrier that road and rail transport experience most times. You can be sure of supply at the right time without hitches.
Underground Running: At times, the use of pipelines is better because you can run it underground, and that will gives room to landowners to cultivate on their lands.
It enables even distribution of petroleum products to remote areas: Pipeline guarantees even supply of white products to remote areas where rail and road transport is not accessible.
Making use of pipeline transportion enhances safety: Except for extreme carelessness, transporting crude oil through pipelines is safe and free from frequent accidents. It is less risky than land transportation.
Pipeline transport prevents avoidable mechanical hiccups: Transporting oil through pipelines saves producers from cargo transfer hitches resulting from mechanical faults. Unlike oil tankers and other forms of transportation, you need not worry over breakdowns.
Disadvantages of Pipeline Transportation
Some of the disadvantages of pipeline transportation are that it is prone to damage, vandalism and petty theft. Additional downsides include lack of maintenance, fire accidents, and fixed capacity.
It is prone to damage: One of the difficulties pipeline transport experiences is damage. They are exposed to damage because there are no separate lands mapped out for them. Furthermore, they may fall victim of road project activities or natural occurrence such as an earthquake.
Vandalism: Another disadvantage of pipeline transport is its exposure to vandals who always destroy oil channels in the name of protest. Vandals usually take advantage of the unprotected pipelines to disrupt the flow of oil in moments of civil unrest.
Leakage and Petty Theft: Early detection of leaks may not be possible with underwater and underground pipelines. Therefore, it may have caused pollution before you detect the leakage. Another disadvantage is petty theft. Sometimes, vandals steal petroleum products transported through pipelines in small proportion.
Lack of Maintenance: It is not easy to carry out maintenance on underground pipelines. That, however, usually gives room for rupturing and oil spill. Also, early detection of leaks in underground channels may be impossible.
Fire Accident: Pumping petroleum products through a leaking pipeline exposes the people to fire and other environmental hazards. Also, it may be impossible for firefighters to gain access to the hazard area at the right time.
The problem of Compensation: Problems always occur between landowners and oil producers on account of inadequate compensation. Producing companies may feel it’s not obligatory to compensate landowners while landowners think otherwise.
Fixed Capacity: There is a limit to the number of petroleum products that producers can pump through pipelines per unit of time. It doesn’t give room for an increase in capacity.