Pipelines run underneath your feet without you even knowing, and they’re responsible for some of the amenities we enjoy every day. If you’re curious and want to learn more, you’ve come to the right place! Read on and discover the top things you need to know about industrial pipelines.
Miles and Miles
Here in the United States, pipelines span miles underground. We’re not simply talking about a few thousand miles—no, there are over one million miles of pipelines underfoot right now! How much natural gas and petroleum is that? Each year, billions of tons of petroleum and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas reach their destinations through pipelines.
Variety Show
Pipelines aren’t good for only one job. You can count on pipelines to transport crude oil and natural gas. Crude oil is sent off to refineries from the field, and natural gas comes from production wells all over the U.S. We need another type of pipeline to transport the finished products once they’ve completed their trip through the refineries.
Safety First
There are many safety considerations for industrial pipeline construction, but pipelines are among the safest ways to transport natural gas and oil. According to the Fraser Institute, if we were to transport natural resources by train, there would be a 4.5 times greater chance of an accident.
History Lesson
Even though you may hear about pipelines frequently nowadays, they’re not new to the U.S. In fact, the first time anyone used a pipe to transport oil was way back in 1859, just two years before the Civil War began!
Now that you know these top points about industrial pipelines, we hope you have a better sense of how important this infrastructure is to daily life. Convenience is a big deal that’s often overlooked, and pipelines grant those everyday conveniences!
