Geography · Ch 7 — Transport and Communication
Pipelines
Pipelines
Pipelines are a mode of transport designed for the continuous, uninterrupted movement of liquids and gases. Their main advantage is that they keep flowing without the delays caused by loading, unloading, or traffic — making them ideal for essential resources that need a steady supply.
The most familiar use of pipelines is for water supply, which reaches homes and cities through an underground network. Cooking gas, or LPG, is also supplied through pipelines in many parts of the world, ensuring a constant and safe delivery to households and industries.
Beyond these common examples, pipelines have several other important applications. They are used to transport petroleum and natural gas over long distances, often from oil fields to refineries or ports. A more specialised use is the transport of liquefied coal — coal that has been converted into a liquid form for easier movement. An unusual but real example comes from New Zealand, where milk is supplied through pipelines from farms to factories.
The textbook also mentions the dense network of oil pipelines in the United States of America, which connects oil-producing areas to refineries and markets. This network is so extensive that it forms a critical part of the country's energy infrastructure.
Pipelines are a continuous flow system — unlike roads or railways, there is no need for vehicles or drivers. Once built, the transport is automatic and runs 24/7.
Key points to remember: …
The photograph shows a section of large-diameter steel pipelines running above ground across a rural, open landscape in Ukraine. The pipes are elevated on a series of support structures — likely concrete or metal trestles — that carry them over a shallow valley or depression in the terrain. This elevated design is necessary to maintain a continuous gradient and to avoid obstacles like uneven ground or small watercourses.
The pipelines themselves are thick, cylindrical, and appear to be welded in long sections. They are part of a natural gas transmission network, which moves gas from producing fields (often in Russia or eastern Ukraine) to consumers in Europe. The image illustrates a key advantage of pipeline transport: it allows an uninterrupted, all-weather flow of a commodity — in this case, natural gas — over long distances, without the need for loading, unloading, or intermediate storage.
What the figure teaches is that pipelines are not limited to underground routes. In many regions, especially where the terrain is uneven or where permafrost or rocky ground makes burial difficult, pipelines are laid on supports above ground. This also makes inspection and maintenance easier. The Ukrainian example is particularly relevant because the country is a major transit corridor for Russian natural gas to Europe, and its pipeline network is one of the densest in the world. …