Page 303 - Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

292 MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OPERATIONS

FIguRE 15.1 Installing onshore pipelines. (Source: © energy.fanchi.com (2010).)

for transportation. But there are many obstacles to building a network of pipelines
capable of transporting produced hydrocarbons from upstream to downstream
operations.
Laying pipelines is a construction project that requires specialized heavy equip-
ment, as shown in Figure 15.1. Pipelines are used to transport fluids both onshore
and offshore. The transport distance can be a few miles to thousands of miles. A right
of way is required to lay pipelines, which involves negotiating with stakeholders that
control the right of way.
Pipelines that transport fluids over long distances usually need compressor
stations or pump stations to keep fluids moving. Gas compression can also maxi-
mize use of space in the pipeline by increasing the density of gas flowing through
the pipeline. A gas compressor is shown in Figure 15.2. The metal wall helps miti-
gate the amount of noise that reaches neighborhoods on the other side of the wall.
The number and location of compressor stations and pump stations depends on
distance traveled and terrain. Pipelines are built over several different types of ter-
rain, such as plains, mountain ranges, deserts, swamps, frozen tundra, and bodies
of water.
The type of terrain impacts construction and maintenance. Hostile environments
such as the desert, Arctic tundra, and North Sea increase the difficulty and cost of
constructing a pipeline. Maintenance is needed to prevent pipeline leaks. Pipelines
can leak if they crack or burst. Hydrocarbon leaks are harmful to the environment and
can impact community support for the pipeline.
Pipeline maintenance helps keep fluids moving efficiently. For example, gas
flowing in a pipeline can contain water dissolved in the gas phase. Pressure and tem-
perature conditions change over the length of the pipeline. Under some conditions,