AOPL Information Site

Our nation's 200,000 miles of oil pipelines safely and efficiently supply us with a commodity that is fundamental to the American way of life. Pipelines deliver the crude oil that refineries convert into essential material for core industries such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. They transport the fuel for our cars, trucks, airplanes, and ships in a way that is both cost effective and safe.

As a trade association, AOPL:

Acts as an information clearinghouse for the public, the media and the pipeline industry.
Provides coordination and leadership for the industry's ongoing Joint Environmental Safety Initiative.
Represents common carrier crude and product petroleum pipelines in Congress, before regulatory agencies, and in the federal courts.

AOPL Headlines

May is National Safe Digging Month! May 5^th marks the one year anniversary of the launch of the national call-before-you-dig number, 811. To commemorate the anniversary of 811, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has designated May 2008 as National Safe Digging Month.

Throughout the month of May, CGA and its members are encouraging homeowners and contractors to call 811 before they dig to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient outages.

On more information on how you can support National Safe Digging Month visit the Common Ground Alliance.

Tim Felt, Chairman of AOPL, testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality on Progress Implementing the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Security Act of 2006. March 12, 2008.

February 2008 Update on Industry/Government R&D Program to Address Pipeline Transportation of Ethanol - The oil pipeline industry is aggressively working to overcome the challenges that currently prevent the shipment of ethanol via pipelines.

AOPL members believe the test results to date are very encouraging signs that the industry will be able to overcome the safety and technical challenges to pipeline transportation of ethanol. The industry, working closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is moving aggressively to ensure that ethanol can be safely transported by pipeline as soon as possible.

Working through the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, the industry is conducting a significant research and development program to find solutions to the safety and technical challenges of transporting ethanol and ethanol-gasoline blends by pipeline. The industry has extensive experience handling storage and blending of ethanol. Dating to the early 1990's, operators have found that ethanol has lead to Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) in tankage and piping associated with blending, storage and distribution facilities. The safety concerns created by the development of SCC is the focus of the industries R&D efforts. The test results to date indicate the following:

*     The origin and manufacturing process of ethanol has significant impact on development of Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)
*     The development of SCC is significantly reduced by decreasing oxygen content of fuel grade ethanol, regardless of its origin
*     Potential means to mitigate SCC have been identified and are being tested
*     Early test results indicate a blend of 90% gasoline 10% ethanol can be transported on existing pipelines without causing SCC

The other technical challenge to pipeline transportation of ethanol is related to maintaining product quality. Ethanol has an affinity for water which can be picked up as the product flows through the pipeline network. In current multi-product pipelines, small amounts of water enter the pipeline system through fuels as well as terminals and tank roofs. The industry expects that pipeline operators will be able to overcome this issue on an individual pipeline system basis. Further information on the roadmap to address all the technical issues related to safe and reliable transport of ethanol may be found here.