Pipelines in your Community

Because pipelines must cross the countryside to deliver products over long distances, the pipeline has many neighbors. The pipeline crosses creeks and rivers, highways and roads, farmers’ fields, parks, and may be near homes, businesses or other community centers.

The ability to transport one of our vital resources safely and without damaging our environment is a unique advantage of pipelines. To protect communities, pipeline neighbors, sensitive environmental areas, as well as the pipeline itself, the pipeline industry's efforts to maintain the pipeline routes and facilities include continuous monitoring of the system.

Pipelines are monitored through a combination of systems and safety programs. Experienced pilots regularly fly over the pipeline routes. Where aerial patrols are restricted, pipeline operations make periodic visual ground inspections. Also, computerized systems report and record the line pressures and the status of the operating equipment 24 hours a day at manned control centers.

Many systems are used to monitor pipelines; and, generally, a single pipeline will employ several. For example, sensitive instruments are monitored at the control center to detect conditions such as a drop in pressure or a change in the flow rate that might indicate a rupture. Also, lines are frequently inspected on foot, by vehicle or from airplanes and helicopters.

To learn more about how pipelines are operated and monitored, visit the Operating Pipelines section.