Oil and gas are found in many various regions all over the United States. However, by contrast, refineries and processing facilities tend to be more concentrated in a few regions, such as the Gulf Coast for example. This means that oil and gas must be transported safely and efficiently from many different locales all over the US to to these hubs. Three of the best transport methods are pipeline, ship, and rail. Let’s take a look at the benefits of each.
Pipeline Transport
Crude oil that is gathered from its source at wellheads can be moved to processing plants, tankers, and refineries via pipelines. There are several benefits to the pipeline technique, including:
- Safety – Moving gas and oil through pipelines is a safe way to get the job done. There are nearly 500,000 miles of pipelines weaving through various states in America. The pipes are equipped to carry petroleum products, crude oil, and natural gas. This technique is environmentally friendly and leads to exceedingly low rates of injuries and fatalities. In fact, it would be easier for a citizen to get struck by lightning than hurt in a pipeline accident.
- Energy Efficient – The pipeline transportation method uses less energy than trucks and trains; therefore, this technique is eco-friendly and leaves a low carbon footprint.
- Convenience – Because booster pumps are positioned along the pipelines, pressure can be conveniently maintained to keep oil flowing to its destination.
Ship Transport
Another good way to move fuel from one location to another is via ship or barge. There are plenty of barges transporting gas and oil inland along rivers and via oceans, such as along the Gulf Coast, to Corpus Christi, and to other oil refineries on the Louisiana and Texas coasts. This coastal area is also referred to as “refinery row.” Some of the pluses of using ships to transport petroleum include:
- Inexpensive – Moving crude via barge or ship is one of the least costly methods of transport.
- Flexible Waterways – Boats can move barrels of oil through inland and coastal waterways. For example, it can be shipped via the Mississippi River, Hudson River, Atlantic, and/or Pacific Oceans.
- Large Capacities – Tank barges carry huge amounts of oil; a typical tank barge can hold 30,000 barrels.
- Multiple Barges Available – There are approximately 275 tank barges and integrated tug-barges available to ship oil.
Railway Transport
Moving crude from its source to the refineries around the nation can also be efficiently done by rail. Although this was first considered to be a stopgap technique until pipelines could be built, it has developed into a popular transport method. Some of the benefits of railway transport include:
- Low Cost Set Up – It takes a short time to recover the capital costs of setting up railway infrastructures to move gas and oil.
- Short Construction Time – Building new rail infrastructures takes a relatively short amount of time. Some estimates give lead times of only 12 to 18 months from startup to fruition.
- Fleet Resources – Rail operations can easily access a mass amount of fleet resources, such as rail crews, railway cars, locomotives, and extra tracks.
- Shorter Transit Times – Transporting crude via train has a fairly short transit time. Shipping fuel from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast only takes one to two weeks.
- Quick Response to Market Fluctuations – Railway carriers are able to respond rapidly to changes in the marketplace. This allows for flexibility to adapt to the ebbs and flows in the business of transporting gas and oil.
The boom in North American energy production has caused major shifts in the oil and gas transportation industry. To meet the needs of moving crude from its source to the refineries that process it and get it out to consumers, there have to be efficient methods to get the job done. Pipelines are safe, energy efficient, and convenient. Barges and ships offer cost benefits, flexibility, and have large capacities. Transporting fuel by railway can be an inexpensive technique that takes a short time to set up; it offers minimal transit time, has readily available fleet resources, and responds quickly to the market fluctuations. Each of these transport methods has its own unique advantages and applications.
