Overview of Pipeline Materials

Steel pipe is normally used for pipelines operating at a pressure of 100 psig or more. Steel pipe withstands high pressures, is durable, and has a long operating life cycle. Fiberglass, PVC, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe is used in certain instances for low-pressure gas gathering pipelines. Components of the pipeline include the following: pipes, valves, fittings, and equipment such as metering, pumps, and compressors.

In this book, we are concerned only with transporting hydrocarbons such as natural gas, refined petroleum products, crude oil, and liquefied petroleum gas in steel pipelines. Therefore, we will not deal with materials such as PVC pipe.