Oil and natural gas pipelines

There is some argument as to when the first real oil pipeline was constructed. Some say the pipeline transport was pioneered by Vladimir Shukhov and the Branobel Company in the late 19th century. Others say oil pipelines originated when the Oil Transport Association first constructed a 2-inch (51 mm) wrought iron pipeline over a 6-mile (9.7 km) track from an oil field in Pennsylvania to a railroad station in Oil Creek, in the 1860s. No matter, pipelines are generally the most economical way to transport large quantities of oil or natural gas over land. Compared to the railroad, they have a lower cost per unit as well as a higher capacity. Although pipelines can be built even under the sea, that process is both economically and technically very demanding, so the majority of oil at sea is transported by tanker ships.

Oil pipelines are made from steel or plastic tubes with inner diameter typically from 10 to 120 cm (about 4 to 47 inches). Most of the pipelines are buried underground at a typical depth of about 1 - 2 metres (about 3 to 6 feet). The oil is kept in motion by a system of pump stations built along the pipeline and usually flows at a speed of about 1 to 6 m/s. Multi-product pipelines are used to transport two or more different products in sequence in the same pipeline. Usually in multi-product pipelines there is no physical separation between the different products. Some mixing of adjacent products occurs, producing interface. This interface is removed from the pipeline at receiving facilities and segregated to prevent contamination.

Crude oil contains varying amounts of wax, or paraffin, and in colder climates wax buildup may occur within a pipeline. Often these pipelines are inspected and cleaned using pipeline inspection gauges or ‘pigs’, also known as, ‘scrapers’ or ‘go-devils’. These devices are launched from pig-launcher stations and travel through the pipeline to be received at any other station down-streams, cleaning wax depositions and materials that may have accumulated within the line.

For natural gas, pipelines are similarly constructed of carbon steel and varying in size from 2 inches (51 mm) to 48 inches (1,200 mm) in diameter depending on the type of the pipeline. The gas is pressurized by compressor stations located along the pipelines and is odorless unless mixed with a mercaptan odorant where identified by the proper regulating body.

When and who constructed the first world’s oil pipeline?

A.The Romans in antiquity.

B.Vladimir Shukhov in 1860.

C.The Oil Transport Association in Pennsylvania in the late 18^th Century.

D.It is still a question which oil pipeline was the first one in the history of mankind.

The pipelines are widely used to transport hydrocarbons because...

A.... they can transport large quantities of oil and natural gas.

B.... they are the cheapest way of hydrocarbon transportation.

C.... it is the most environmentally friendly method of transporting hydrocarbons.

D.... they can be built not only over land but also under the sea.

3. ‘Interface’ is ...

A.... a mixture of various hydrocarbon products.

B.... physical separation of different products.

C.... contaminated oil transported through a pipeline.

D.... a unit used to control the flow of products in a pipeline.

4.‘Pigs” are...

A. ... pumps used to make oil products move in the pipeline.

B. ... special devices used to get rid of wax buildups in the pipeline.

C. ... animals launched to travel inside a pipeline to test its passing ability.

D. ... inspectors who check pipeline compliance with existing safety regulations.

Natural gas ...

A. ... does not smell because of mercaptans, added during transportation.

B. ... is scentless if only a special odorant is not added to it.

C. ... smells unpleasantly.

D. ... has a pleasant odour if it contains sulphur.

Text 2

I. Give missing headings for each pipeline section described in the text basing on the diagram below.

Figure 7

Pipeline components

Pipeline networks are composed of several pieces of equipment that operate together to move products from location to location. The main elements that make up a pipeline system can be summarized as follows:

This element, known also as the ‘supply’ or ‘inlet station’, is basically the beginning of the system. This is where the product is injected into the line. Storage facilities, such as tank terminals, as well as other devices to push the product through the line, like pumps or compressors are usually situated at these locations.

Pumps for liquid pipelines and compressors for gas pipelines, are located along the line to help move the product through the pipeline. The location of these stations is defined by the topography of the terrain, the type of product being transported, or operational conditions of the network.

Mention should be made of the first line of protection for pipelines. With these valves the operator can isolate any segment of the line to perform some specific maintenance work or isolate a rupture or leak. Block valve stations are usually located every 20 to 30 miles (48 km), depending on the type of the pipeline. Even though it is not a design rule, it is a very usual practice in liquid pipelines. Overall the location of these stations depends exclusively on the nature of the product being transported, the trajectory of the pipeline and/or the operational conditions of the line.

Another name of this section is the ‘intermediate station’, which facilities allow the pipeline operator to deliver part of the product being transported.

This section is also known as the ‘outlet station’ or ‘terminal’ where the product will be distributed to the final consumer. It could be a tank terminal for liquid pipelines or a connection to a distribution network for gas pipelines.

II. Answer the questions by choosing from the pipeline sections A-E. The sections may be chosen more than once. There is an example at the beginning [0].