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Colonial Pipeline Co. is an interstate common carrier of petroleum products. Each day, it delivers an average of 100 million gallons of gasolines, kerosenes, home heating oils, diesel fuels and national defense fuels to shipper terminals in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

The 5,519-mile Colonial system transports these fuels primarily from refineries in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to 267 marketing terminals serving the communities across the South and Eastern United States.

The Importance of Oil Pipelines

A vast underground network of pipelines safely fuels our nation. Working day and night, these steel pipes transport the natural gas, crude oil and refined petroleum products that sustain industry, drive our economy and provide for our individual needs.

Today, more than 97% of transportation energy is supplied by petroleum, and pipelines are by far the most important of the industry’s supply systems. They are also the most efficient: Delivering a gallon of gasoline from Houston to New York costs less than 3 cents per gallon.

Pipelines provide the easy accessibility to fuel on which our economy and lifestyles depend, whether its kerosene for heating homes, jet fuel for commercial aviation, diesel fuel for trucks delivering goods, fuels for farmers and military fuels for U.S. troops. And don’t forget the school buses, trucks and cars that are part of our everyday lives.

Colonial is connected directly to several military installations as well as to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Nashville Metropolitan Airport, Charlotte-Douglas Airport, Raleigh-Durham Airport, Greensboro Triad and Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta.

In 2007, Colonial Pipeline Co. delivered more than 868 million barrels of fuel. That’s nearly 2.4 million barrels every day. In terms of gallons, Colonial delivered about 36.5 billion gallons during year, or about 100 million gallons every day. If not for pipelines, these fuels would have to be delivered solely by trucks or, where there are waterways, by barges and ships.

Petroleum pipelines offer many advantages over other modes of transportation:

·         Highways are less congested with tanker trucks;

·         Fewer highway repair costs result;

·         Citizens are safer due to reduced truck traffic;

·         The air we breathe is cleaner;

·         All types of fuel are less expensive; and

·         A steady, dependable supply of fuel is always available.