AOPL report shows pipeline share of U.S. petroleum transport rose in 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oil pipelines had an increasing share of petroleum transportation in the U.S. during 2008, according to annualized data from the Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

"Pipelines accounted for 71 percent of all petroleum transportation in 2008, up from 66.8 percent in 2007 and 54 percent in 1990," said Andrew J. Black, president of AOPL.

U.S. crude oil and product pipelines continued to increase their share of total U.S. petroleum transportation in 2008, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines said on Jan. 4.

AOPL’s report covers four major petroleum transportation modes - pipelines, motor carriers, water carriers and railroads - and two major petroleum categories: oil and petroleum products.

For 2008, AOPL said, total ton-miles for all transportation modes grew by 5.6 percent from 2007.

Pipelines transported 12.9 more crude and products in 2008 (629.9 billion ton-miles) than in 2007, while motor carriers transported 0.03 percent less (35.1 billion ton-miles), water carriers moved 10.3 percent less (194 billion ton-miles) and railroads moved 13.5 percent less (23 billion ton-miles), according to the report.

It said that in 2008, pipelines were the largest conveyers of crude (83 percent, up from about 53 percent in 1990) and of petroleum products (62 percent, up from 56 percent in 1990). (Source: Association of Oil Pipe Lines, Jan. 4, 2011)