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pipeline
Table of Contents
pipeline

 * Introduction
   
 * 
   History
   
 * Types
    * Water and sewer lines
   
    * Oil pipelines
   
    * Gas pipelines
   
    * Pipelines for transporting other fluids
   
    * Slurry pipelines
   
    * Pneumatic pipelines
   
    * Capsule pipelines

 * Design and operation
    * Components
   
    * Construction
   
    * Operation
   
    * Safety

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 * Related Content

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 * Images

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 * More Articles On This Topic
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Home Technology Industry


PIPELINE

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By Henry Liu • Edit History

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Table of Contents
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pipeline, line of pipe equipped with pumps and valves and other control devices
for moving liquids, gases, and slurries (fine particles suspended in liquid).
Pipeline sizes vary from the 2-inch- (5-centimetre-) diameter lines used in
oil-well gathering systems to lines 30 feet (9 metres) across in high-volume
water and sewage networks. Pipelines usually consist of sections of pipe made of
metal (e.g., steel, cast iron, and aluminum), though some are constructed of
concrete, clay products, and occasionally plastics. The sections are welded
together and, in most cases, laid underground.

Most countries have an extensive network of pipelines. Because they are usually
out of sight, their contribution to freight transport and their importance to
the economy are often unrecognized by the general public. Yet, virtually all the
water transported from treatment plants to individual households, all the
natural gas from wellheads to individual users, and practically all the
long-distance transportation of oil overland goes by pipeline.

Pipelines have been the preferred mode of transportation for liquid and gas over
competing modes such as truck and rail for several reasons: they are less
damaging to the environment, less susceptible to theft, and more economical,
safe, convenient, and reliable than other modes. Although transporting solids by
pipeline is more difficult and more costly than transporting liquid and gas by
pipeline, in many situations pipelines have been chosen to transport solids
ranging from coal and other minerals over long distances or to transport grain,
rocks, cement, concrete, solid wastes, pulp, machine parts, books, and hundreds
of other products over short distances. The list of solid cargoes transported by
pipelines has been expanding steadily.




HISTORY

For thousands of years, pipelines have been constructed in various parts of the
world to convey water for drinking and irrigation. This includes ancient use in
China of pipe made of hollow bamboo and the use of aqueducts by the Romans and
Persians. The Chinese even used bamboo pipe to transmit natural gas to light
their capital, Peking, as early as 400 bce.


Learn the history behind Byron Benson's building the world's first oil pipeline
(1879), defeating John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company
Overview of the first oil pipeline (1879), which attempted to compete with the
Standard Oil Company.
Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, MainzSee all videos for this article

A significant improvement of pipeline technology took place in the 18th century,
when cast-iron pipes were used commercially. Another major milestone was the
advent in the 19th century of steel pipe, which greatly increased the strength
of pipes of all sizes. The development of high-strength steel pipes made it
possible to transport natural gas and oil over long distances. Initially, all
steel pipes had to be threaded together. This was difficult to do for large
pipes, and they were apt to leak under high pressure. The application of welding
to join pipes in the 1920s made it possible to construct leakproof,
high-pressure, large-diameter pipelines. Today, most high-pressure piping
consists of steel pipe with welded joints.

Learn about the numerous processes employed for the construction of pipelines
Overview of the construction of pipelines.
Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, MainzSee all videos for this article

line of pipe equiMajor innovations since 1950 include introduction of ductile
iron and large-diameter concrete pressure pipes for water; use of polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) pipe for sewers; use of “pigs” to clean the interior of pipelines
and to perform other duties; “batching” of different petroleum products in a
common pipeline; application of cathodic protection to reduce corrosion and
extend pipeline life; use of space-age technologies such as computers to control
pipelines and microwave stations and satellites to communicate between
headquarters and the field; and new technologies and extensive measures to
prevent and detect pipeline leaks. Furthermore, many new devices have been
invented or produced to facilitate pipeline construction. These include large
side booms to lay pipes, machines to drill under rivers and roads for crossing,
machines to bend large pipes in the field, and X rays to detect welding flaws.




TYPES

Pipelines can be categorized in different ways. In what follows, pipelines will
be categorized according to the commodity transported and the type of fluid
flow.




WATER AND SEWER LINES

Pipelines are used universally to bring water from treatment plants to
individual households or buildings. They form an underground network of pipe
beneath cities and streets. Water pipelines are usually laid a few feet (one
metre or more) underground, depending on the frost line of the location and the
need for protection against accidental damage by digging or construction
activities.



In modern water engineering, while copper tubing is commonly used for indoor
plumbing, large-diameter outdoor high-pressure water mains (trunk lines) may use
steel, ductile-iron, or concrete pressure pipes. Smaller-diameter lines (branch
lines) may use steel, ductile-iron, or PVC pipes. When metal pipes are used to
carry drinking water, the interior of the pipe often has a plastic or cement
lining to prevent rusting, which may lead to a deterioration in water quality.
The exteriors of metal pipes also are coated with an asphalt product and wrapped
with special tape to reduce corrosion due to contact with certain soils. In
addition, direct-current electrodes are often placed along steel pipelines in
what is called cathodic protection.

Domestic sewage normally contains 98 percent water and 2 percent solids. The
sewage transported by pipeline (sewers) is normally somewhat corrosive, but it
is under low pressure. Depending on the pressure in the pipe and other
conditions, sewer pipes are made of concrete, PVC, cast iron, or clay. PVC is
especially popular for sizes less than 12 inches (30 centimetres) in diameter.
Large-diameter storm sewers often use corrugated steel pipe.



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 * Energy Education - Pipeline

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 * pipeline - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

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Liu, Henry. "pipeline". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2021,
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2022.
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External Websites
 * Energy Education - Pipeline

Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
 * pipeline - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)