What are the four major commodities transported by pipelines?

Answer 1

Pipelines primarily move four major commodities.

These commodities are crude oil and oil products, natural gas, coal, and chemicals.

Crude oil and oil makes of the bulk of the commodities moved through a pipeline. The bulk of pipeline movements are crude oil and oil products. In 2001, crude oil and oil products accounted for about 60 percent of total pipeline use. Between 1990 and 2006 pipelines have seen a 5.6% increase in oil related freight ton miles.

Natural gas pipelines account for the second largest number of intercity pipeline ton-miles. Natural gas pipeline companies produce about 10 percent of the gas they transport. Independent gas companies produce the remaining 90 percent and transport it via the pipelines.

Coal pipelines account for the third largest volume. Because coal is not in a liquid form, coal does not usually come to minds as a pipelinable commodity. Coal is converted into slurry in order to move it through pipelines. Slurry is created by pulverized the coal and then mixing it with water in a one-to-one ratio by weight. Once the coal has reached its destination, the water is removed and the coal is ready for use. Coal pipelines use enormous quantities of water, which causes concern in several western states where their installation has been proposed because there is a scarcity of water and the water is not reusable (no backhaul).

Chemicals are the last of the four primary commodities shipped by pipeline. The three major chemicals are anhydrous ammonia, which is used in fertilizer; propylene, which is used for manufacturing detergents; and ethylene, which is used for making antifreeze.

These commodities meet the pipeline requirement for high volume and low cost, and these commodities are either liquid or convertible to liquid. Pipelines offer low cost and low loss / damage for these types of commodities.