Typical oil well production fluids are a mixture of oil, gas and produced water. An oil production plant is distinct from an oil depot, which does not have processing facilities. Oil production plant may be associated with onshore or offshore oil fields.
What is a crude oil pipeline?
Crude oil pipelines are subdivided into gathering lines and transmission lines. Gathering lines are very small pipelines (usually 2 to 12 inches in diameter) that operate at relatively low pressures and flow rates and are used to transport crude oil or natural gas from the production site (the wellhead) to a central collection point.
What is a cross-country crude oil pipeline?
Cross-country crude oil transmission pipelines (or trunk lines) are larger (usually 12 to 24 inches in diameter) and transport crude oil from producing areas to refineries. There are approximately 84,000 miles of crude oil system lines in the United States that connect regional markets.
What is a liquid pipeline?
Within the liquid pipeline network, pipes may transport crude oil, carbon dioxide, natural gas liquids, and refined products. Crude oil pipelines are subdivided into gathering lines and transmission lines.