UK oil pipeline network


The United Kingdom petroleum pipeline network is principally made up of three pipelines systems: the former Government Pipeline and Storage System now the CLH Pipeline System; the Esso pipelines, and the United Kingdom Oil Pipelines and associated pipelines. There are also several other lines including the Fina line built around 1990 that runs from Humberside to the Buncefield depot near Hemel Hempstead.

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. In 1963 Esso built their own pipeline from their Fawley refinery to London Heathrow. The Esso Main and Midlines constructed in the 1970s and 1980s respectively. The Esso pipeline from Fawley to London is due to be replaced, with the preferred routes G and J - North and South of Alton Pumping station being announced in June 2018. For a further description see CLH Pipeline System.

UKOP

The United Kingdom Oil Pipeline is an oil products pipeline opened in 1969 and connecting the two Shell refineries of Stanlow and Shell Haven. UKOP is owned by a consortium of five shareholders Essar Midlands Ltd, BP, Shell, Valeo and Total. UKOP is administered and operated by the British Pipeline Agency, 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. In 1985 the UKOP pipeline from Kingsbury to Buncefield was commissioned.
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 and Petroplus Coryton in the south, with smaller volumes from tankage at Shell Haven. UKOP carries two grades of petrol, two grades of kerosene 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.
FromToLength
Diameter
Capacity
Operating pressure Year constructedNotes
AldermastonNewbury6725
AldermastonSandy1108/10807251941A/S line
AldermastonWalton on Thames8/10725
AltonGatwick airport101100Aviation kerosene, operated by Shell
Astwood TeeBirmingham airport50121200Astwood Tee on Hythe to Seisdon line
AvonmouthWalton on Thames80/1351941-44A/T line
AvonmouthAldermaston8/10180 + 807251941A/A line
AvonmouthStanlow2208/101007251941-42N/S line via Gloucester, Upton, Worcester, Stourport and Beeston Castle terminals
AvonmouthHythe/Fawley61440Aviation kerosene
BackfordBromborough/ Ellesmere Port10725
BackfordMisterton1608/10801941-44B/M line
Backford/StanlowManchester airport104501994Aviation kerosene, via Plumley
BactonNorth Walsham8.367201968Gas condensate, owned by Shell operated by British Pipeline Authority
Berwick WoodPortishead/Nailsea16725
BuncefieldWalton on Thames6/81300via Longford junction Aviation kerosene
CadisheadCarrington Tee12Aviation kerosene
CalneFairford//Carterton61100
Carrington TeeManchester airport121400Aviation kerosene
ClaydonThetford81200Aviation kerosene
ClaydonWoodbridge6725
ColnbrookHeathrow airport12200Aviation kerosene
Former Coryton refinery now Thames OilportStanlow39410, 1412001969UKOP run by British Pipeline Agency, Thames-Mersey line via Buncefield terminal, Blisworth, and Kingsbury terminal
FalmouthSt. Mawgan81100
FawleyEsso West London oil terminal10510/1210001972Aviation kerosene
FawleySevernside1266
FawleySeisdon141100
FawleyShanklin1941-44F/S line
GrainNettlestead Tee1206/880/957251941-44Nettlestead Tee on Walton to Dungeness line
HambleAldermaston658/101207251941-42R/H line
HethersettBuxton 6725
Hythe/FawleySeisdonAviation kerosene
InvernessLossiemouth81100
KingsburyBuncefield10/121200
Lindsey refinery Buncefield terminal1501015001990Fina line, operated by BPA, via Immingham Docks
LinkswoodLeuchars6232
MiddlesborroughSaltend 1531230 tons/hr
Milford HavenSeisdon23416Aviation kerosene, 'Mainline'
MistertonLincoln/Tattershall8725
MossmorranStanlow41015Northern UK NGL-Ethylene System, via Wilton, TPEP Trans-pennine
PlumleyGoostrey10450
PurfleetGatwick airport101100Aviation kerosene, Shell
RawcliffeElvington/Northallerton8725
Saffron 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
Saffron WaldenSandy378/10957251941TH/N/S line
Saffron WaldenWoodbridge81200via Claydon
SandyKelmarsh8725
SandyMisterton1108/10807251941-43S/M line
SeisdonCarrington Tee11212Aviation kerosene
SeisdonNottingham11210, 121400'Mainline via Kingsbury
StanlowBackford
StanlowBromborough400 + 350 + 55 + 551941-44Bromborough balance tanks
StanlowKillingholme10/121100Former GPSS via Bramhall and Rawcliffe terminals
StanlowKingsbury101200
StanlowRuncorn81305Ethylene
StanlowCarrington4652Propylene
TeessideSaltend121160Ethylene, TSEP
TetsworthIslip/Somerton6/8725
Thames HavenSaffron Walden608/109512001941-44TH/N line
Theddlethorpe terminalKillingholme refinery6900Theddlethorpe terminal decommissioned 2018
ThetfordIngham/Barton Mills6/8725Aviation kerosene
ThetfordShouldham/Tattersett8725Aviation kerosene
TranmereStanlow16652Fuel oil
Walton on ThamesDungeness8957251941-44T/D line
Walton on ThamesGatwick airport361013001984Operated by BPA
Walton on ThamesHeathrow airport67201959
WiltonGrangemouth101390Ethylene, WGEP

Crude oil pipelines

In addition to the petroleum products pipelines there are a number of crude oil pipelines transporting crude oil from coastal terminals to refineries. The sources give various and conflicting lengths and capacities.
From – ToLength, milesOriginal operatorDiameterYear constructedCapacity
Finnart – Grangemouth refinery57
BP, Ineos from 200550 cm19514.5 million tonnes/year
7 million tons/year
Tranmere oil terminal – Stanlow refinery9
Shell24 /28 inch1960linked six 20,000 tonne tanks at terminal to refinery, operating at 696 psi
Angle Bay Milford Haven – Llandarcy oil refinery62
BP46 cm19615 million tonnes/year
8 million tons/year
Tranmere oil terminal – Heysham oil refinery70Shell30 cm19662 million tons/year. Replaced an 18,000 dwt tanker supply. Decommissioned 1976
Tranmere – EasthamShell12 inchOperating at 696 psi
Tetney Monobuoy – Tetney marine terminal3Phillips 6636 inch1969
Tetney marine terminal – Humber refinery15Phillips 6622 inch1969
Amlwch/Rhosgoch – Stanlow refinery79 Shell2 × 36 inch1974Decommissioned 1990
Cruden Bay – Kinneil terminal130BP, Ineos from 201736 inch197587,000 m3/day, oil from offshore Forties field and natural gas liquids from St Fergus. Booster pump stations at Netherley, Brechin and Balbeggie