Pipelines accounted for 53% of total U.S. crude and petroleum products shipments in 1989, up from 50.1 % in 1988.
However, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines reported last week, total crude and products shipments via pipeline in 1989, the most recent year for which data are available, dropped to 584.2 billion ton miles from 601.1 billion the previous year. Still, pipelines' ton mileage in 1989 was down only 2.8%, compared with 7.9% for all other means of transportation.
Total 1989 shipments of crude and products were 1.094 trillion ton miles, of which pipelines carried 53%, water carriers 43%, motor vehicles 3%, and railroads 1%.
AOPL said water carrier shipments dropped 19% in 1989 compared with 1988. It attributed that in part to a decrease in tanker shipments from Alaska.
In crude shipments only, pipelines carried 52% of the 653 billion ton miles, up from 47% in 1988. Water carriers moved 48%, down from 52% the prior year.
In product shipments only, pipelines moved 55.7% of the 441.2 billion ton miles transported, down very slightly from 55.9% the previous year. Water carriers moved 34.9%, down from 35%.
AOPL also reported there were 122,311 miles of crude oil trunk and gathering lines and 91,773 miles of product trunk lines in 1988.
It said 1989 capital investments in oil pipelines were $24.6 billion, and 1989 operating revenues were $6.5 billion. Oil pipelines' share of the national freight bill was 2.9% in 1989.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates 148 oil pipelines, which in 1989 employed 19,000 persons.
Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
