According to Handy, pipelines play an essential part in sustaining modern-day conveniences that we cannot live without, but it is not easy to appreciate their value since they run beneath the cities, streets, continents, and even oceans. In fact, most people have no idea how pipelines work and have misconceptions about their usage.
Here are a few things that you should know about pipelines:
- There are different types of pipelines – Pipelines are constructed and managed differently depending on what they are intended to carry and where they have to go. That’s why it is important to understand the many different categories of pipelines.
Let’s look at them below:
- Gas pipelines – These pipelines are constructed to carry natural gas.
- Distribution pipelines – These are smaller pipelines that transport gas within a community to individual businesses and homes.
- Hazardous liquid pipelines – These pipelines mainly carry fuels such as jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, and more.
- Intrastate pipelines – These pipelines are created to operate within the state boundaries.
- Transmission pipelines – These are larger pipelines that are made to transport liquid and gas across the country.
- Interstate pipelines – These pipelines are made to operate beyond state and national boundaries.
- Pipelines are among the safest way to transport – According to the Fraser Institute, pipelines are 4.5 times safer than rail for transporting natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Pipelines are also ranked as a safer means of transporting natural resources according to the National Transportation and Safety Board.
Pipelines have cathodic protection which essentially means that they are protected via an electrical shield. Typically, the pipeline is connected to a secondary metal via an electrical line which absorbs the current that is passed through it. As a result, the iron or steel pipe remains safe since the corrosion occurs on the secondary metal.
- Pipelines come in different sizes – The diameter of a pipeline can range anywhere from two inches to four feet depending on what it is transporting such as natural gas or oil. For instance, pipelines transported crude oil from fields to refineries. Other types of pipelines transport natural gas pumped from production wells to refineries. Then, the third type of pipeline is used to transport refined oil and natural gas to various regions.
Other factors that determine how wide the pipeline should be includes the temperature, pressure, and the volume being transported.
- Technology to preserve pipeline integrity – Devices such as Pipeline Inspection Gauges(PIGS) can be used to inspect the interior surface of the pipeline and get rid of debris. They also help to preserve the integrity of the pipeline by preventing potential threats before they have a chance to emerge.
Ground personnel also conduct periodic physical inspections and drones equipped with advanced sensors and high-resolution cameras are also used to inspect pipelines above ground. Corrosions are prevented by applying modern sealants to the exterior of the pipe.
Handy suggests you watch a few YouTube videos online to learn more interesting facts about pipelines and how they work. It is easier to understand more information about pipelines by watching videos than by simply reading about their details.