PIPELINE NETWORK

Pipeline networks are composed of several pieces of equipments that operate together to move products from location to location.
Oil, Gas, Water, Chemicals, etc. are generally transferred through a pipeline network stretching across a large geographical area.

Pipelines can be classified in three categories:

1) GATHERING PIPELINES
Group of smaller interconnected pipelines forming complex networks with purpose of bringing crude oil or natural gas from several wells to
a treatment plant or processing facility.
In this group, the pipelines are usually short, a couple of hundred metres and with small diameters.
Also sub-sea pipelines for collecting product from deep water production platforms are considered gathering systems.

2) TRANSPORTATION PIPIELINES
Mainly long pipes with large diameters, moving products (oil, gas, refined products) between cities, countries and even continents.
These transportation networks include several stations as Injection Station, Pump/Compressor Station, Block Valve Station, Pigging Facility.

The main elements of a Transportation Pipeline system are:

 Injection Station (Supply / Inlet Station)

It is the beginning of the system, where the product (Oil / Gas) is injected into the pipeline.
Storage facilities, pumps, compressors, metering stations are usually located at the injection station.

 Metering Stations
Metering stations are placed along gas pipelines. These stations allow pipeline operator to monitor, manage, and account for gas in pipes.
Metering stations employ specialized meters to measure the gas as it flows through the pipeline without impeding its movement.

 Pump / Compressor Station (Booster Station)

Pumps for liquid pipelines and compressors for gas pipelines, are located along the line to move the product through the pipeline.
The location of these stations is defined by topography of terrain, type of product being transported, or operational conditions of network.
Booster stations are installed along the pipelines at variable distances to compensate for the pipeline pressure losses and elevation changes
and to ensure a constant flow of liquid.

 Block Valve Station

These are the first line of protection for pipelines.
With these valves the operator can isolate any segment of the line for 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 pipeline.
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.

 Regulator Station
This is a special type of valve station, where the operator can release some of the pressure from the line.
Regulators are usually located at the downhill side of a peak.

 Pig Launching / Receiving Facilities

Pigging facilities consist of pig launching or receiving equipment & allow pipeline to accommodate a high-resolution internal inspection tool.
Pigs are devices that are placed into a pipeline to perform certain functions. Some are used to clean the inside of the pipeline or to monitor
its internal and external condition.
Launchers and receivers are facilities that enable pigs to be inserted into or removed from the pipeline.
It may be equipped with an office, workshops, a small permanent camp (in remote locations), power generators, storage areas, and helipad.
It is normally unmanned except during periods of manual pigging and during routing service or repair.

 Partial Delivery Station (Intermediate Station)

These facilities allow the pipeline operator to deliver part of the product being transported.

 Final Delivery Station (Outlet Station / Terminal)

This is where the product will be delivered by the pipeline operator.
It could be a tank farm for storage or a connection to a distribution network for gas or oil.

3) DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES
Composed of several interconnected pipelines with small diameters, used to take the products to the final consumer.
Feeder lines to distribute gas to homes and businesses downstream.
Pipelines at terminals for distributing products to tanks and storage facilities are included in this group.