Can there be any time that we will be living without the need for fuel? Guess not as oil and gas are some of the most fundamental requirements that contribute in a big way to our lifestyles and even existence. Not on households but industries are solely dependent and Oil and Gas as the primary source of energy to keep the daily operations running. 

Hence it is imperative to say that a nation’s economy is largely influenced by the demand and supply of fuel and gas and constant availability of the same has to be maintained. This means they have to be transported most conveniently and reliably whenever and wherever it is required. The biggest challenge is to choose the right Transportation mode that makes it possible for the delivery and transportation of oil and gas most reliably and safely.

CHALLENGES :

Before we try to evaluate the best ways to Transport Oil and Gas it is essential to understand the challenges faced.

As already known as one of the most essential aspects while handling oil and gas it the transportation of it but the biggest challenge any transportation company faces is because of the hazardous nature of this product. Oil and Gas are considered to be the most dangerous goods to be handled while transporting it and utmost care and planning and safety precaution has to be catered to.

Special handling and safety regulations have to be adhered to for different kinds of material in this category that can be Natural Gas, Crude Oil as well as oversized drilling equipment that is used by major oil refineries. Transportation equipment plays a significant role as cargo security and delivery speed are crucial delivery elements in the oil and gas supply chain.

It is also a challenge for delivery companies to choose the apt and best mode of transportation for the successful delivery of oil and gas. Let’s take a quick peek into the various modes of transportation than can be utilized.

TRUCKING : 

One of the best and most popular modes of transportation that comes to our mind to transport oil and gas are the trucks. This is supposed to be the easiest method and one of the most utilized ways of transporting. Not only does it give the advantage of being able to schedule the transportation whenever required but also gives the leverage of transporting oil and gas in lesser quantities or as per requirements. Hence trucking is the most beneficial means of transportation for oil and gas.

OCEAN TRANSPORTATION :

Trucks cannot be used for large volumes of fuel transportation especially when it is across countries. Moving oil and gas via ships is the only means of transporting when it has to cross geographical boundaries but ships are the slowest yet inexpensive means. Not only that it is the most reliable way of transporting higher volumes. Ocean transportation is used for large intermodal strategies and despite the transit time, it is the most efficient one.

RAIL TRANSPORTATION :

Another viable mode and considered to be the oldest one which has been used for more than 150 years. Rail transportation is still one of the primary means of oil and gas transportation when transportation has to be done interstate and makes oil containers less prone to damages. This mode of transportation can be largely used in combination with other land transportation to make the product available on land. It is also considered to be the most cost-effective way to move oil and gas long distances and also in large volumes.

PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION :

This is one of the hot topics of discussion and one that will see enormous possibilities in the coming future. Oil and gas can be transported directly to the site of consumption via pipeline networks which are already been implemented by many companies today. It is the fastest and proving to be the most reliable way to distribute oil especially with the increasing use and advent of newer technologies that will help in improving the safety of the distribution. Today pipelines have been installed with state of the art high powered sensory capabilities that will monitor crucial indicators like temperature and pressure fluctuations

The transportation mode has its disadvantages as well as it primarily pipelines networks infrastructures are not developed in all areas and secondly as the volumes of oil and gas moved is in large volumes it poses a serious safety concern and damages can be higher.

SUMMARY :

To sum it all up when transporting oil and gas especially in large volumes, one of the most important and pertinent concerns is the safety aspect. Hence while choosing the mode of transportation one has to keep in mind the volume of transportation and also where it has to be transported and how soon. Based on these key points the best and safest means have to be chosen.

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