The transportation of crude oil and gases is an integral part of its manufacture. They must be mined and then somehow moved to the factory for refining. Pipes were reportedly first made in the late 1800s, but pipe alignment sheets were not developed until much later.

The lines are generally built with steel or plastic pipes. Most are buried underground at depths of up to 48 feet. The pump stations along the lines are what keep the oil moving. They generally operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. The line operators are there to monitor the entire route. Safety inspections are conducted at regular intervals to look for leaks, breaks, and other inconsistencies. These operators and inspectors are trained to be prepared for any emergency. They can easily close a line or section of it if the need arises.

Many other materials can also be transported in this way, not just oil. Materials such as water, hydrogen, biofuels, wastewater and even, in some particular cases, beers on a smaller scale can move through these lines. Some are designed to transport two different products at the same time. Products are not normally separated on the line itself. Needless to say, the possibilities are endless!

There are several components that make up each line system. At the beginning you will find the injection station, where the material is actually pumped. Then there are the compression valves along the entire line that are the ones that keep the gases moving. Liquids are moved by pumps.

The lines are protected by valve stop stations. Sections of the line can be locked out for maintenance. This is especially important when a leak or break needs to be repaired. It is not necessary to close and flush the entire line. Engineers can now simply work in that particular area blocking the flow.

Regulators are used to relieve pressure from gas lines. These are important and are operated through valve stations. Then there is the final section, which is the departure station. This is where the materials will be distributed on different lines and moved to the final destination.

Several companies are offering their services to generate sheets showing engineering data in relation to the line itself. These maps show you the complete path of the line and identify the land masses associated with its location. Many have different designs that can be customized using the template they provide.

Pipe alignment sheets or maps are critical because they provide the engineer, as well as the corporate base, with a bird’s-eye view of the line itself and all of its components. In emergency situations, one would consult the sheet and could quickly come up with a plan for cordoning off the correct area and how to locate it as quickly as possible. Companies can create the sheets for you or software is available to make your own.