R P Dubey
Value Added Services Cell
Remote Sensing and Image Processing Area
Space Applications Centre (ISRO)
Ahmedabad 380015
Phone: 91-79-6774104, Fax: 91-79-6915824
Email: rpdubey@resa-sac.org, rpdubey@hotmail.com
Introduction
Pipelines are the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly means of fluid transport. Transmission or trunk pipelines are examples of engineering marvel requiring high project cost and long gestation periods and operating life. Careful planning of their route can save on cost, time and operating expenses, ensure longer operational life and help prevent environmental fallouts.
Throughout the world, a large network of pipes transports oil, gas, water and different products. Pipeline transport is most prevalent in USA where nearly two-thirds of the ton-miles of oil get transported annually through a network of more than two million kilometers of pipelines, in some of the toughest terrains. Pipelines are by far the most economical, practical and safe option of fluid transport. They save enormously due to their tenfold efficiency over trucking / railroad operations and accrue important environmental and safety benefits by reducing the highway congestion, pollution and spill. This inexpensive, reliable and high capacity transport is critical to national economy and security.
In India the trend towards pipeline transport is increasing ?and is likely to accentuate with privatization of petroleum sector and growth of cities. The pipeline network will see an exponential growth from the current instalLED network of nearly one lakh kilometer. Petroleum and petroleum products being basic raw material for many industries, the use of pipelines shall increase for sectors like fertilizers, power, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, p
