| A pipeline is a line or series of pipes as | | | | the gas for travel. People make use of |
| well as the accompanying valves, pumps and | | | | residential natural gas in part for cooking |
| other apparatus required to transport liquids | | | | on gas powered stoves, heating their homes |
| and gases through it. Pipeline transport is, | | | | and the luxury of hot running water. |
| quite simply, the transporting of goods via | | | | |
| pipe. Goods traveling through pipelines are | | | | Pipelines are also used in the transportation |
| typically in a liquid or gaseous state, | | | | of water, for instance from city water mains |
| though in certain instances solids can be | | | | to residents and businesses for running tap |
| transported through pipelines. While | | | | water and irrigation. Eliminating the need |
| pipelines are responsible for the | | | | for pumps, water pipelines sometimes utilize |
| transportation of a variety of substances, | | | | gravity as the force propelling water through |
| such as water, sewage, and even beer, the | | | | them in cases where a downward gradient meets |
| most economically substantial pipelines are | | | | qualifications. For instance, water can be |
| those dedicated to transporting natural gas | | | | transported by the force of gravity from an |
| and oil. Pipelines have proven to be the most | | | | elevated tank to its destination, such as a |
| cost effective means of transporting mass | | | | residence. |
| amounts of oil and natural gas across land, | | | | |
| incurring a lower cost and having a larger | | | | Pipelines must be designed to specifications |
| capacity than traditional railroad | | | | that prevent leakage and can withstand the |
| transportation. | | | | levels of pressure necessary to force |
| | | | products through the pipes to their |
| Oil pipelines are typically constructed of | | | | destinations. Additional considerations in |
| plastic or steel, and are built both above | | | | pipeline production are the characteristics |
| ground level and below the surface of the | | | | of the pipeline material, such as a tendency |
| ground at a depth of about three feet. | | | | to expand, contract, or corrode, as well as |
| Strategically placed pumps along the pipeline | | | | the properties of the substance that will be |
| keep the oil traveling through the line. Some | | | | carried by the pipeline. The flammable nature |
| pipelines are capable of transporting | | | | of substances often contained within |
| multiple products at the same time. Natural | | | | pipelines makes them vulnerable to causing |
| gas is transported from large pipelines | | | | significant damage in the event of an |
| through smaller feeder pipes to be used by | | | | accident. For this reason, pipelines raise |
| homes and businesses. Natural gas pipelines | | | | concern for catastrophes caused by vandalism, |
| utilize incremental compressors to pressurize | | | | malicious attacks and defects. |