TRB Special Report 311: Effects of Diluted Bitumen on Crude Oil Transmission Pipelines (2013) / Chapter Skim
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2 Crude Oil Pipelines in the United States
2 Crude Oil Pipelines in the United States
Pages 10-21
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From page 10... ...
The gathering systems are made up of lowcapacity pipelines -- typically less than 8 inches in diameter -- that move crude oil from wells to high-capacity transmission pipelines that are usually 8 to 48 inches in diameter. Before the crude oil leaves the production field, it is processed to remove excess water, gases, and sediments as necessary to meet the quality specifications of transmission pipelines and the refineries they access.
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Both the East and West Coasts have remained largely independent markets for crude oil supplies. The eastern states have little oil production and no significant crude oil transmission pipelines.
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In comparison, California has an extensive network of crude oil transmission pipelines because of significant in-state oil production. These pipeline systems, some of which consist of heated lines to move the native viscous crude oils, do not connect to pipeline systems in other states.
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Accordingly, inlet stations are access points for truck tankers, railroad tank cars, and tanker vessels as well as other pipelines, including gathering lines connecting production areas. Along with pumping stations, sampling and metering facilities are located at inlets to ensure that the crude oils injected into the pipeline meet the quality control requirements of the pipeline operator and intended recipients.
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From page 14... ...
OPERATIONS AND CONTROL Batch Operations A transmission pipeline will rarely carry a single type of crude oil. At any given time, a large pipeline will usually be transporting dozens of shipments, typically in batches of at least 50,000 barrels and covering a variety of crude oil grades.
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Increasing operating pressure will increase pipeline throughput, which is generally desired by an operator to increase revenue capacity. Higher operating pressures, however, require a larger investment in pipe materials and pumping capacity and will increase energy use and operating costs.
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oversees the tariffs that interstate pipeline operators are required to publish as common carriers. For intrastate transmission pipelines, state authorities such as the Texas Railroad Commission and the California Energy Commission function much like FERC in overseeing tariffs for in-state movements.
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Cleaning Periodic cleaning of crude oil pipelines and equipment is often performed to facilitate inspection as well as to maintain operational performance. Cleaning intervals, typically measured in weeks or months, will vary depending on operating conditions and crude oil properties.
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In addition, coatings are inspected whenever portions of the pipeline are uncovered. Corrosion Mitigation Practices It is standard practice for buried transmission pipelines to be coated externally to provide a physical barrier between the steel and the surrounding corrosive environment.
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From page 19... ...
As noted above, transmission pipelines are typically constructed of steel with no internal coatings, so the transported product is in contact with the steel. While oil is not corrosive, even small amounts of contaminants such as water and salts in the oil can be 9 Inspections performed on gas gathering lines equipped with an early generation FBE coating (from the mid-1970s)
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From page 20... ...
Chemical additives may also have properties that repel the water from the pipe wall, neutralize acids, and act as biocides to help inhibit microbiologically influenced corrosion. The rates of flow in transmission pipelines are normally sufficient to prevent the deposition of contaminants and to sweep away deposits that settle to the pipe bottom.
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From page 21... ...
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, Washington, D.C., Nov.
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