A History of Bending Steel for Pipelines - By: amabaie

Pipe bending is a crucial component in the formation of many different types of pipelines, like the ones that are used to transport such products as oil, natural gas, water and even sewage. The most valuable of all these products is of course oil.

Interesting Fact #1:

Before the invention of pipe bending for oil pipelines, oil was transported from oil wells to railway stations by horse in converted wooden whiskey barrels. It is because of these wooden whiskey barrels that we still measure oil by the barrel today.

Oil pipelines were first used in Pennsylvania to connect an oil field to a railway station. This first pipeline spanned 6 miles and was made entirely out of wrought iron. Eventually the idea caught on and improvements where made leading up to our modern pipelines which are now made out of metal.

Oil is one of the most important materials that utilize pipelines, but it isn't the only one. Beside fuel, such as oil and natural gas, pipelines also carry water, sewage and many other things. There are three main types of pipelines, which are ones for gathering, ones for transportation and those for distribution.

1) Gathering pipelines are a group of small interconnected pipes that are typically used to gather crude oil or natural gas from a number of different wells with the purpose of sending the material to a nearby processing plant.

2) Distribution pipelines send the finished product, such as refined oil or natural gas, directly to the consumer's home. Pipelines that are located at shipping and storage areas that send the product to tankers and storage facilities are also considered distribution pipelines.

3) Transportation pipelines consist of very long pipes with large diameters and are used to transport products such as crude or refined oil and natural gas long distances. Transportation pipelines can stretch between cities, countries and even continents.

As you can see, all three types of pipelines are important, and the pipes in each one would require bending at many points along the way.

Over the years pipes have been made from a variety of materials, from wood, stone, glass, plastic, metal, steel, lead and copper. Oil pipelines are typically made from bending steel while natural gas pipelines are made using carbon steel. Water pipes are typically made out of copper today, however you will still find those made from lead.

Interesting Fact #2: The Romans were the first civilization to use lead pipes to transport water. Plumbum is the Latin word for lead and one who works with water pipes is still known today as a Plumber. (The next time a plumber comes to your house - may it be a long time from now - ask him if he knows where the word "plumber" comes from.)

In order to bend steel pipe for pipelines a significant amount of heat and pressure is required. This is why only a major metal fabrication plant can construct them. That's right - don't try this at home! As the demand for more pipelines increases metal fabrication plants will have to become more economical and develop systems that produce pipelines that are also more reliable.

About the Author

David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon are writing about bending steel pipe for Paramount Roll and Forming. You can learn more about how they bend steel pipe .

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