While iron pipe for other uses in the US dates back to the 1830’s, the use of pipe for oil transportation started soon after the drilling of the first commercial oil well in 1859 by “Colonel” Edwin Drake in Titusville Pennsylvania.

The first pipes were short and basic, to get oil from drill holes to nearby tanks or refineries. The rapid increase in demand for a useful product, in the early case kerosene, led to more wells and a greater need for transportation of the products to markets. Early transport by teamster wagon, wooden pipes, and rail rapidly lead to the development of better and longer pipes and pipelines.

In the 1860’s as the pipeline business grew, quality control of pipe manufacture became a reality and the quality and type of metal for pipes improved from wrought iron to steel.

Technology continues to make better pipes of better steel, and find better ways to install pipe in the ground and continually analyze it’s condition once it is in the ground. At the same time pipeline safety regulations become more complete driven by better understanding of materials available and better techniques to operate and maintain pipelines.