Advantages Of Pipelines In Crude Oil Transportation

| Saturday, October 22, 2016
By Ryan Allen


Oil is a valuable product. From its mining to refinery, manpower is required. Therefore, it leads to creation of job opportunities. In addition, the government gets substantial revenue. Nonetheless, it can cause havoc to the environment if handled incorrectly. Also, such a case can lead to deaths or even diseases. Crude oil transportation should be handled in a professional manner.

Experts in the field agree that pipelines are so far the best means when it comes to movement of the product. To some degree, road and rail are used but there are associated with a greater risk. Besides this, it is costly to use these means.

The producers pay less than ten dollars for every barrel of oil transported through this means. Thus, they are able to enjoy higher profits. However, there are other factors which have come to play due to increased production and demands. The volume, flow direction and location are factors which cannot be ignored in this case.

It is very rare to hear of pipeline bursts. However, oil tankers and containers are reported to have exploded almost on a daily basis. It leaves many people unnerved when they see lorries or trains carrying oil tankers. Peace of mind is far important than the revenues the product brings. Therefore, it will be better for everyone when the oil is moved in safer means.

Adverse weather conditions do not interfere with crude oil movement when the means of transport is pipeline. However, all other means will be affected by adverse elements of weather. Delays in delivery of the product can cripple operations in businesses where it is needed. Given the fact that many companies need oil to operate machines and vehicles, almost all businesses are affected by this.

Remote places are mostly ignored when it comes to transport infrastructure. The government weighs revenue collection against expenses in construction of the infrastructure in many cases. The remote places are at a disadvantage when it comes to this. However, pipelines can pass through any form of terrain. The areas can still get oil supply in this case.

When roads have to be built or railways, the public is forced to give up the land or even vacate without compensation. However, this is not the case with pipelines. The people can still till the land and plant crops even when there is an underground pipeline. They only have to take care not to puncture the lines because oil spills will contaminate the crops and water basins. However, this is not a precaution that is difficult to observe.

Even though there are fewer complications in moving crude oil via pipelines, it does not mean that disasters cannot happen. The personnel recruited to handle such matters needs to have proper technical know-how. The merit of oil depends on how fast it can be refined and re-distributed. Therefore, it will be better when the time taken is shorter.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment