Oil & gas Pipelines and geopolitics
History of fuel pipelines
The first use of a pipe for transferring of fuel has been occurred in China about 2,500 years ago. The Chinese used bamboo pipes for transporting natural gas from shallow wells. They used to burn it under pans in order to boil seawater for desalination and make the water drinkable. Later records indicate that as early as 400 BC, the Chinese used bamboo pipes, wrapped in wax, to light the capital of China, Peking.
Pipelines development in the 18th and 19th century
The early designed pipelines were restricted by materials, preliminary technologies, and the restricted ability for pumping of oil. Such systems did not have any prospect being developed. The use of wood, iron, lead and even tin pipes were common during the 18’s decade to transport water. Primarily in 1821 wood pipes were used for transporting natural gas in New York State, USA. In 1843 iron pipes were used. Making use of such a system considerably reduced the probability of hazards of transporting the flammable and explosive natural gas. By 1863, a 4 km iron pipeline, completed with pumps to move the oil up to 150 Meter was laid in Pennsylvania, USA. That pipeline was not a successful pipeline, particularly when the pump leaked at the joints.
The first fully successful oil pipeline, which was wrapped in iron frames with highly reinforced joints with capacity of about 2,000 barrels of oil per day across 8 km of land, came in operation at1865 in USA.
Today, the world’s longest crude oil pipeline runs about 3755 km flow the crude oil about 1.6 (Mb/d).
However, from the early days of wooden trench and wooden barrels, the pipeline industry has had a great deal of progress and has implemented the newest technology in pipeline operations and maintenance. Today, the industry uses sophisticated controls and computer systems, advanced pipe materials, and anti-corrosion metallurgical techniques.
The oil and gas are transported in the large transmission pipelines to refineries, power stations, oil terminals and so on. Oil and natural gas provide most of the world’s energy.
The fuels providing the world’s energy needs are:
· Oil = 34%
· Coal = 24%
· Natural gas = 21%
· Nuclear = 7%
· Hydro = 2%
· Other = 12%
It is estimated fossil fuels will remain the primary sources of energy, in the fraction of about 90% of the increase in future energy demand of the world. Global oil demand will rise by about 1.6% per year, from 75 Mb/d in 2000 to 120 Mb/d in 2030, and demand for natural gas will rise more strongly than for any other fossil fuels and will be doubled between until 2030. Today the total length of transmission pipelines around the world has been estimated at 3,500,000 km. The quota is estimated to be,
· 64% carry natural gas
· 19% carry oil products
· 17% carry crude oil
Pipelines and geopolitics
Pipelines for transporting of oil and natural gas are not merely an element of international trade. They connect to issues of geopolitics and international security as well, and the construction, placement, and control of oil and gas pipelines often figure prominently in the state national benefits and international actions. A notable example of pipeline politics occurred at the beginning of the year 2009, wherein a dispute between Russia and Ukraine ostensibly over pricing led to a major political crisis. Russia cut off supply of natural gas to Ukraine after talks between it and the Ukrainian government failed. In addition to cutting off supplies to Ukraine, Russian gas flowing through Ukraine which included nearly all supplies to Europe was cut off, creating a energy crisis in several European countries heavily dependent on Russian gas as fuel.
Also in acts of regional war, terrorism, sabotage, and theft the parameter of geopolitics engaged in the field pipelines system. Pipelines can be the target of vandalism, sabotage, or even terrorist attacks. In wars, pipelines are often the target of military attacks, as the destruction of pipelines can seriously disrupt the enemy of access to the vital energy sources.
The world’s oil and gas pipelines pass within and across regions that are politically unstable regions involved in armed conflicts, regions like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon and so on, or prone to terrorist attacks. For example, Saudi Arabia has about 20,000 km of pipelines and this may be a suitable, easy target for terrorist attack.
Conclusion
Although, pipelines and its facilities are vulnerable to terrorist attacks, sabotage, the world’s pipeline system is growing. The pipelines continue to play a major role in the oil and gas industry providing safe, reliable and economical transportation.
The shipment of oil and gas by super-jumbo tankers also are liable to the danger of terrorist attacks and sabotage in the case of crossing through Straits of the seas.
However as the need for world’s energy increases, while a lot of continues are far away from supply energy centers, more pipelines are needed to continue to bring energy for the world. Indeed without pipelines, the world would not be able to satisfy the huge oil and gas needs for future. Pipeline industry development is so vital for civilization of human beings, but in technical and protection point of view, it needs to change its operations.
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