Not all pipelines are the same! In oilfield construction, there are four different types of pipelines in Canada: gathering, feeder, transmission, and distribution. Diverse lines are designed to transport diverse products. Each type of pipeline looks different and has different sized networks, too. It is important for companies to distinguish between such lines so they can work efficiently and meet government regulations.
Gathering Lines
As an Energy Education article writes, gathering lines work across short distances. For the most part, they gather oil from wells and transport the oil for processing. According to the About Pipelines infographic, the diameter of gathering lines range from a paper towel roll; to the size of a large pizza.
Feeder Lines
Feeder lines move product between storage tanks and facilities within refineries to transmission pipelines. Their size is about the same as a gathering line.
Transmission Lines
Transmission pipelines carry crude oil and natural gas across long distances to refineries and storage facilities. Because they travel long distances, they currently account for 117,000 kilometers of Canada’s network of pipelines. Transmission pipelines are the largest and can reach up to 457 millimeters.
Distribution Lines
Distribution pipelines are the most important to our daily life. They transport oil, gas, and other resources to businesses and homes, ensuring that we enjoy the taken-for-granted luxuries of heat, gasoline, and more. Unlike the other lines, distribution pipelines are smaller and only reach the diameter of a soda bottle, and they only carry the necessities to our homes, such as natural gas.
Understanding the different types of lines allows for a better understanding of oilfield construction in general. Companies such as Platinum Pipefitting are sure to be very familiar with these four versions of pipelines. Considerations such as where they go, what regulation size they should be, and their function are vital components of constructing pipelines.