by From transportation fuels and plastics to polar fleece jackets, many products rely on crude oil for their production. Getting this vital resource from the ground to markets is no easy feat. Pipeline networks zigzag across the country, transporting barrels of crude to processing plants and refineries. Though costly to set up, pipelines are the safest and most cost-effective of all modes of transportation.
Pipelines are a vital part of the energy transportation system. They transport a significant percentage of the oil and natural gas that is consumed every day. They also serve as an important alternative to trucking and shipping by rail when pipeline capacity is full.
There are three main types of petroleum pipeline systems: crude oil pipelines, refined product pipelines, and gathering lines. Crude oil pipelines transport crude oil from production sites to refineries. Refined product pipelines transport finished products like gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel fuel from refineries to distribution facilities and consumers.
Most liquid petroleum pipelines transport multiple different types of products in “batches.” To do this, they use a process called scheduling. When a batch of products is sent through the pipeline, a ticket is created that shows the type of product, origination point, transportation destination, and owner. This helps to ensure that the proper product is delivered at the correct time. This is especially helpful if a pipeline is carrying two or more different types of products to meet customer demands.
Before there were airplanes and highways the most efficient way to transport large quantities of goods, particularly heavy ones, was by water. This is where barges came into play.
Barges are vessels that float on inland waters, coastal and riverways either on their own or towed behind tugboats. They can be self-propelled, whereas they are primarily used to carry cargo from oil refineries to storage facilities. They are also towed to offload cargo from ocean-going ships that cannot dock due to their size or draft.
They are divided into two major types, covered and tank. Covered barges haul dry cargo like grain and food products, metal ores, and fabricated steel. While tank barges primarily haul crude oil, petrochemicals and liquid chemicals. Low water conditions in the Mississippi River are currently making it difficult for producers in the wet Marcellus to barge their production to market.
The Crude Transportation Market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising global demand for oil and petroleum products. As economies expand and industries flourish, the need to transport crude oil from extraction sites to refineries and end-users becomes ever more critical. The market is witnessing increasing investments in transportation infrastructure, including pipelines, tankers, and railroads, to meet the growing demand for efficient and reliable crude transportation services.
The sea is home to massive tankers that travel vast distances between points of crude oil extraction and refineries. These VLCCs and ULCCs transport crude oil as well as refined petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt.
These shipping routes are vulnerable to risk events like piracy, maritime terrorism, and vessel incidents. These ships must navigate key straits and canals that are susceptible to chokepoint events such as blockades and military conflict.
While pipelines are often considered as a safer and more efficient method of transporting oil, ships play an essential role in keeping the world’s energy industry operating smoothly. They provide an alternative to the construction of costly pipeline infrastructure and allow for the transport of crude oil from overseas locations. Ships can help carry oversized industrial pieces like drilling platforms to their destination.
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Railroads can transport crude oil on long cargo trains equipped with special tanker cars. This mode of transportation is used mostly in areas where pipelines are not available. Each tank car only holds a fraction of the amount of oil that one large marine tanker vessel can, whereas when multiple tank cars are used, significant volumes of oil can be transported by rail.
The railroad industry continually evaluates and modernizes its hazmat operations to ensure the safe movement of crude oil. Research, development, and implementation of new technologies can help reduce the risk of accidents while improving environmental cleanup efforts in the event of a disaster. AAR continues to support federal proposals for improved tank car standards, enhanced emergency response information, and a phase-out program for older tank cars.
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.
