What Are the Components and Characteristics of Natural Gas Pipelines?
Natural gas mainline pipes usually vary from 16 to 48 inches in diameter, but most interstate pipelines are between 24 and 36 inches in diameter. The pipe consists of strong carbon steel material that meets the standards of the American Petroleum Institute. The pipe is also covered with a specialized coating (e.g., fusion bond epoxy) to ensure that it does not corrode. In addition, cathodic protection is often used to ward off corrosion and rusting. Natural gas travels at high pressures of 200 to 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi) which reduces the volume of natural gas being transported by up to 600 times and provides the propellant force to move it through the pipeline. General information on interstate natural gas pipelines, including numerous reports, can be found on the Web site of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. Compressor stations generally occupy 15 to 22 acres of land and are located at 40- to 100-mile intervals along a pipeline. These facilities compress th
