The United Kingdom petroleum pipeline network is principally made up of three pipelines systems: the former Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) now the Exolum Pipeline System; the Esso pipelines (principally the mainline and midlines), and the United Kingdom Oil Pipelines (UKOP) and associated pipelines. There are also several other lines including the Fina line built around 1990 that runs from North Lincolnshire to the Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead.Tim Whittle: Fuelling the Wars – PLUTO and the Secret Pipeline Network 1936 to 2015 published 2017.

GPSS The GPSS was originally constructed between 1941 and 1944 and then extended after the war, most notably during the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s. The first commercial pipeline to be constructed in the United Kingdom was built in 1959 by Shell-Mex and BP from the GPSS depot at Walton on Thames to Heathrow Airport. This pipeline now forms part of UKOP (West London). In 1963 Esso built their own pipeline from their Fawley refinery to London Heathrow.A.L.Adams: The Development and Use of the Department of Energy's Oil Pipelines and Storages p8 (Paper 1980). The Esso Main and Midlines constructed in the 1970s and 1980s respectively. A section of the Esso Fawley to London pipeline, between Boorley Green, Eastleigh and Hounslow, was replaced between 2021 and 2023. For a further description see Exolum Pipeline System.

UKOP

The United Kingdom Oil Pipeline (UKOP) is an oil products pipeline opened in 1969 and connecting the two (then) Shell refineries of Stanlow (Cheshire) and Shell Haven (Thames Estuary). UKOP is owned by a consortium of five shareholders Essar Midlands Ltd, BP, Shell, Valero and Total. UKOP is administered and operated by the British Pipeline Agency (BPA), which is jointly owned by Shell and BP. As part of the UKOP network, in 1982 BPA began work a pipeline from Walton to Gatwick and this was substantively complete by the end of the year. However, in 1983 the pipeline had to be shut down and was not brought back into operation until 1984.BPA: Annual Report and Accounts 1981 to 1984 In 1985 the UKOP pipeline from Kingsbury to Buncefield was commissioned.Tim Whittle: Fuelling the Wars – PLUTO and the Secret Pipeline Network 1936 to 2015 page 140 published 2017.

UKOP transports 7.5 million tonnes of mixed products each year distributed to major oil terminals at Buncefield and Kingsbury with spurs to Northampton and Nottingham. UKOP now draws its products from Essar Stanlow in the north, with smaller volumes from tankage at Shell Haven. UKOP carries two grades of petrol, two grades of kerosene (including Jet A-1) and two grades of gas oil-diesel.

To ensure safety and integrity, the pipeline is patrolled by helicopter every two weeks.

Petroleum product pipelines A list of UK petroleum pipelines. Pipelines are multi-product lines with batches of product separated by pigs, except for single product lines where shown, for example aviation kerosene. +UK refined products pipelinesFromToLength

(km)Diameter

(inches)Capacity

(1000 tons/month)Operating pressure (psi)Year constructedNotesAldermastonNewbury6725AldermastonSandy1108/10807251941A/S lineAldermastonWalton on Thames8/10725AltonGatwick airport101100Aviation kerosene, operated by ShellAstwood TeeBirmingham airport50121200Astwood Tee on Hythe to Seisdon lineAvonmouthWalton on Thames80/1351941–44A/T lineAvonmouthAldermaston8/10180 + 807251941A/A lineAvonmouthStanlow2208/101007251941–42N/S line via Gloucester, Upton, Worcester, Stourport and Beeston Castle terminalsAvonmouthHythe/Fawley61440Aviation keroseneBackfordBromborough/ Ellesmere Port10725BackfordMisterton1608/10801941–44B/M lineBackford/StanlowManchester airport104501994Aviation kerosene, via PlumleyBactonNorth Walsham8.367201968Gas condensate, owned by Shell operated by British Pipeline AuthorityBerwick WoodPortishead/Nailsea16725BuncefieldWalton on Thames6/81300via Longford junction (spur to Heathrow airport) Aviation keroseneCadisheadCarrington Tee12Aviation keroseneCalneFairford//Carterton61100Carrington TeeManchester airport121400Aviation keroseneClaydonThetford81200Aviation keroseneClaydonWoodbridge6725ColnbrookHeathrow airport12200Aviation keroseneFormer Coryton refinery now Thames OilportStanlow39410, 1412001969UKOP run by British Pipeline Agency, Thames-Mersey line via Buncefield terminal, Blisworth (spur to Northampton), and Kingsbury terminalFalmouthSt. Mawgan81100FawleyEsso West London oil terminal10510/1210001972Aviation keroseneFawleySevernside1266FawleySeisdon141100FawleyShanklin1941–44F/S lineGrainNettlestead Tee1206/880/957251941–44Nettlestead Tee on Walton to Dungeness lineHambleAldermaston658/101207251941–42R/H lineHethersettBuxton (Norfolk)6725Hythe/FawleySeisdonAviation keroseneInvernessLossiemouth81100KingsburyBuncefield10/121200Lindsey refinery (Killingholme)Buncefield terminal1501015001990Fina line, operated by BPA, via Immingham DocksLinkswoodLeuchars6232MiddlesborroughSaltend (Hull)1531230 tons/hrMilford HavenSeisdon23416Aviation kerosene, 'Mainline'MistertonLincoln/Tattershall8725MossmorranStanlow41015Northern UK NGL-Ethylene System, via Wilton, TPEP Trans-penninePlumleyGoostrey10450PurfleetGatwick airport101100Aviation kerosene, ShellRawcliffeElvington/Northallerton8725Saffron WaldenStansted airport61100Aviation kerosene. Built by the US Air Force in 1954 but was never commissioned. Refurbished in 1990 as part of the redevelopment of Stansted airport.Saffron WaldenHethersett8757251941–44TH/N line (part)Saffron WaldenSandy378/10957251941TH/N/S lineSaffron WaldenWoodbridge81200via ClaydonSandyKelmarsh8725SandyMisterton1108/10807251941–43S/M lineSeisdonCarrington Tee11212Aviation keroseneSeisdonNottingham11210, 121400'Mainline via KingsburyStanlowBackfordStanlowBromborough400 + 350 + 55 + 551941–44Bromborough balance tanksStanlowKillingholme10/121100Former GPSS via Bramhall and Rawcliffe terminalsStanlowKingsbury101200StanlowRuncorn81305Ethylene, RSEPStanlowCarrington4652PropyleneStanlowCarringtonEthylene, SCEPTeessideSaltend121160Ethylene, TSEPTetsworthIslip/Somerton6/8725Thames HavenSaffron Walden608/109512001941–44TH/N line (part)Theddlethorpe terminalKillingholme refinery6900Theddlethorpe terminal decommissioned 2018ThetfordIngham/Barton Mills6/8725Aviation keroseneThetfordShouldham/Tattersett8725Aviation keroseneTranmereStanlow16652Fuel oilWalton on ThamesDungeness8957251941–44T/D lineWalton on ThamesGatwick airport361013001984Operated by BPAWalton on ThamesHeathrow airport67201959StanlowGrangemouthNorth West Ethylene Pipeline, NWEPWiltonGrangemouth101390Ethylene, WGEP

Crude oil pipelines In addition to the petroleum products pipelines there are a number of crude oil pipelines transporting crude oil from offshore installations to coastal terminals and from terminals to refineries. The sources give various and conflicting lengths and capacities. +UK offshore to onshore crude oil pipelinesFrom – ToLength (miles)Diameter (inches)Max. waterdepth (feet)Capacity (bbl/day)Original operatorYear commissionedBeatrice – Nigg Bay4216Britoil1981Bruce – Forties/ Cruden Bay line15524Total1993Cormorant South – Sullom Voe9336420–540Shell/Esso1978Ekofisk – Teesside22034220–300300,000Phillips1975Forties – Cruden Bay10636430550,000BP1991 (replaced 32 inch line)Montrose – Forties/ Cruden Bay line3914Amoco1993Ninian – Sullom Voe105364921,000,000BP1978Piper – Flotta13030480560,000Occidental1976 +UK onshore crude oil pipelinesFrom – ToLength, milesDiameterOriginal operatorYear constructedCapacityFinnart – Grangemouth refinery57 (90 km)50 cmBP, Ineos from 200519514.5 million tonnes/year 7 million tons/yearTranmere oil terminal – Stanlow refinery9 (24 km)24 /28 inchShell1960linked six 20,000 tonne tanks at terminal to refinery, operating at 696 psiAngle Bay Milford Haven – Llandarcy oil refinery62 (96 km)46 cmBP19615 million tonnes/year 8 million tons/yearTranmere oil terminal – Heysham oil refinery7030 cmShell19662 million tons/year. Replaced an 18,000 dwt tanker supply. Decommissioned 1976 (refinery closed)Tranmere – Eastham12 inchShellOperating at 696 psiTetney Monobuoy – Tetney marine terminal336 inchPhillips 661969Tetney marine terminal – Humber refinery1522 inchPhillips 661969Amlwch/Rhosgoch – Stanlow refinery79 (127 km)2 × 36 inchShell1974Decommissioned 1990Cruden Bay – Kinneil terminal13036 inchBP, Ineos from 2017197587,000 m3/day, oil from offshore Forties field and natural gas liquids from St Fergus. Booster pump stations at Netherley, Brechin and Balbeggie

See also For details of UK gas pipelines see National Transmission System CLH Pipeline System Oil terminals in the United Kingdom British Pipeline Agency

References

Further reading Tim Whittle: Fuelling the Wars – PLUTO and the Secret Pipeline Network 1936 to 2015 published 2017.