Oil pipelines are a crucial element in the petroleum industry and in our daily lives. Without oil many of things around us would not be possible, from the food we eat to the cars we drive to the very products we buy, oil has taken part in each and every one of them.

Interesting Fact #1:

Before the invention of bending steel pipe for oil pipelines, oil was transported from oil wells to railway stations by horse in converted wooden whiskey barrels. It is because of these wooden whiskey barrels that we still measure oil by the barrel today.

Oil pipelines were first used in Pennsylvania to connect an oil field to a railway station. This first pipeline spanned 6 miles and was made entirely out of wrought iron. Eventually the idea caught on and improvements where made leading up to our modern pipelines which are now made out of metal.

Although when one thinks of pipelines they may immediately jump to those that are used for oil, there are many other types of pipelines that are used for different reasons. Generally pipelines can be categorized in three types, which are as follows:

1. Gathering Pipelines

Gathering pipelines are typically a group of smaller interconnected pipes that are used to gather crude oil or natural gas from a number of different areas or wells with the purpose of sending the material to nearby processing or treatment plants. The pipes used in gathering pipelines are smaller, both in length and diameter, than the large oil pipeline that most likely comes to mind. Gathering pipelines are also used in deep-water oil platforms.

2. Transportation Pipelines

Transportation pipelines are the ones that probably first come to mind when you think or an oil pipeline. These pipelines consist of very long pipes with large diameters and are used to transport products such as crude or refined oil and natural gas long distances. Transportation pipelines can stretch between cities, countries and even continents.

3. Distribution Pipelines

Distribution pipelines are those that send the finished product, such as natural gas, directly to the consumer’s home. Pipelines that are located at shipping and storage areas that send the product to tankers and storage facilities are also considered distribution pipelines.

As you can see, all three types of pipelines are important, and the pipes in each one would require bending at many points along the way.

Pipelines have been made from just about any material imaginable, from wood and stone to plastic and metal. Oil pipelines are typically made from steel pipe bending while natural gas pipelines are made using carbon steel. When it comes to water pipes, the majority of them are made using copper, but older houses and buildings may still be using lead pipes.

Interesting Fact #2: The Romans were the first civilization to use lead pipes to transport water. Plumbum is the Latin word for lead and one who works with water pipes is still known today as a Plumber. (The next time a plumber comes to your house - may it be a long time from now - ask him if he knows where the word “plumber” comes from.)

In order to bend pipe for pipelines a significant amount of heat and pressure is required. This is why only a major metal fabrication plant can construct them. That’s right - don’t try this at home! As the demand for more pipelines increases metal fabrication plants will have to become more economical and develop systems that produce pipelines that are also more reliable.