8.2.5
Pathways
Pipelines and Transmission Lines
Pipelines and Transmission Lines
Energy pathways describe the flow of an energy resource from the producer to the consumer. Pipelines and transmissions lines are ways for this flow to be transferred.
Pipelines
Pipelines
- Natural gas and oil can be transported via pipelines that run either overground, underground or along a seabed.
Russian exports
Russian exports
- The 4,188 km long East Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline allows Russia to export oil to China, South Korea and Japan.
- The 4,107 km Yamal-Europe Gas Pipeline starts in Russia and passes through Belarus and Poland to Germany. Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe.
Transmission lines
Transmission lines
- Transmission lines are high voltage lines that carry electricity from the power plants that generate them to where the energy is needed.
- The interconnected transmission lines system in the UK is known as the national grid.
- Transmission lines carry the high voltage electricity to a substation where it decreases the voltage to what is needed by factories, businesses and other customers.
Transporting Energy
Transporting Energy
Gas and oil are transported by road, rail and shipping.
Shipping routes
Shipping routes
- Roughly 50% of the world’s oil is transported by tankers on shipping routes. Tankers can also transport gas, but in its liquid form LNG (liquid natural gas).
Shipping route chokepoints
Shipping route chokepoints
- As the ships transport the measure cargo, there are chokepoints. These are narrow sea channels where transport can be easily disrupted.
- There are eight major chokepoints across the world including the Strait of Hormuz, which is only 39km wide.
- If these chokepoints become blocked or threatened, energy prices may rise and energy security of nations dependent on the oil and gas is threatened.
Road and railway
Road and railway
- Petroleum (oil) can be transported via rail.
- The USA uses rail as a way of transporting crude oil from refineries along the west and east coast.
- Railways move around 50% of the 265,000,000 barrels of crude oil from Bakken (North Dakota and Montana) to the East coast.
Impact on Energy Security
Impact on Energy Security
Energy security is highly affected by the vulnerability of transport networks. Pipelines are intentionally placed to avoid damage and ships avoid areas known for piracy.
Pipelines
Pipelines
- Pipelines are placed to reduce or avoid passing through transit states. This has lead Russia’s Gazprom to run 1200km of the Nord Stream pipeline along the bed of the Baltic Sea.
- If pipelines are damaged, this can cause massive impacts.
- During winter storms in 2013, which damaged the importing pipeline, the UK was left with six hours worth of gas reserves.
Piracy on ships
Piracy on ships
- During 2015, piracy attacks were reported along the Strait of Malacca.
- Ships are frequently seized for hostage payments. This has happened over 500 times between 2009-2015.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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