Colonial Pipeline Co. is an interstate common carrier of petroleum products. Each day, it delivers an average of 95 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 5519-mile Colonial system transports these fuels from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to 267 marketing terminals located near the major population centers of the Southeast and Eastern Seaboard.

The Importance of Oil Pipelines

A vast underground network fuels our nation. Working day and night, these steel pipes transport the natural gas, crude oil and refined petroleum products that sustain our industry, our economy and our individual households.

Today, oil pipelines alone carry almost one-quarter of this nation's total inter city freight, yet at a cost so low that it is less expensive to transport twelve 6.4-pound gallons of gasoline from Houston to New York by pipeline than it is to mail a one-ounce first class letter the same distance.

About half of all crude oil and petroleum products consumed in our nation is transported in some 200,000 miles of liquids pipelines. In 1995, approximately 601.1 billion ton-miles of crude oil and petroleum products were carried in the United States through this network of pipes.

For many years, pipelines have safely and efficiently supplied petroleum to meet the energy needs of the United States. Those pipelines are necessary for our daily functions. They provide the easy accessibility to fuel on which our economy and lifestyle depend, in addition to supplying major airports and military installations.

In 1996, Colonial Pipeline Co. delivered 820.1 million gallons of jet fuel directly to airports across the country. These airports included: Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Nashville Metropolitan Airport, Charlotte-Douglas Airport, Raleigh-Durham Airport, Greensboro Triad and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. If oil pipelines were not available, tanker trucks or other modes of transport would be required to supply the demand for jet fuel and other petroleum products.

Colonial continues in its position as the world's largest-volume refined petroleum products pipeline system. In 1995, Colonial transported 92.4 billion ton-miles of petroleum products. This accounts for over 20 percent of the total 458.9 billion ton-miles of petroleum products transported by pipelines, water carriers, motor carriers and railroads in 1995.