Historical development of oil pipe line
Most industrialized countries have long had large networks of pipes for the distribution of water and gas, but pipelines as a means of moving commodities over long distances originated in the oil industry more than a hundred years ago. The first successful crude oil pipeline was built in 1865 in Pennsylvania, a screwed cast-iron pipeline 2 in. diameter and six miles long. Its life was short, but it demonstrated the feasibility of the method.
The first pipe line in Russia was laid in 1878. It was a short line built for the transportation of oil from the Balahani oil fields to the town of Baku. Its construction was followed by the building in 1904 of a trunk line from Baku to Batumi. It connected the oil fields of Baku with the port of Batumi. Its length was 833 km. The construction of these pipelines was too difficult because of absence of such equipment as tractors, cranes, excavators and etc. The trenches for laying a pipe were dug by means of spades; the pipe was laid into them with the help of ropes, without using any machinery. Now to help the builders there are first class machines (powerful tractors, bulldozers, scrapers, ditchers, pipe-bending, pipe screwing and pipe-laying machines).
A considerable mileage of trunk pipe was constructed in the Soviet times after the Great October Socialist Revolution. The trunk lines Grozny to Tuapse, Emba to Orsk, a new line from Baku to Batumi were among first pipe lines built in the Soviet Union. In 1970s there appeared two major pipe lines: the 4,968 mile Siberian pipe line and the 2,795 mile Friendship line. The name “Friendship” was given due to the fact that the pipeline was intended to supply oil to the energy hungry western regions of the Soviet Union, to its “fraternal socialist allies” in the former Soviet bloc, and to Western Europe. Today it is one of the principle arteries for the transportation of hydrocarbons across Europe.
In the course of time pipe lines have proved to be the most economical method for the distribution of natural gas and the transportation of oil in bulk, the oil pipe line net increasing from year to year.
The basic problem facing pipe lining is to increase efficiency and delivery capacity of the line. To that end, the length, the size and the diameter of lines have been growing continuously.
At present there is an increasing tendency to use long-distance large-diameter pipes (up to 48 inches, i.e. more than one meter), at the same time thinner wall pipes are coming into use.
There has been a general belief that pipe line transportation is confined to crude petroleum, but this is not necessarily the case. At present, an extensive research program has been launched on solid pipe lining, including slurry and capsules. Other possible materials being considered for pipe line transportation are coal, iron ore, potash and even corn.
VI. Answer the following questions.
1. What method is the most economical for the transportation of oil and gas?
2. When was the first oil pipe line built in our country?
3. What was the first 1ong-distance trunk line in the Soviet Union? When was it built?
4. What were the two major oil pipe lines built in the Soviet Union?
5. What is their length and where do they start and terminate?
6. What countries is oil supplied to through the pipe line “Friendship”?
7. Why did the Soviet Union expand the net of oil pipe lines?
8. What materials can be transported through the pipe lines?
9. What is the largest diameter of pipe lines?
10. What is the future of pipelining?
VII. Put the sentences into the passive, mentioning the agent where necessary and translate them.
1. We transport oil through pipe lines. 2. Our country launched an extensive research program. 3. Soon we shall transport iron ore, coal and other materials through pipe lines. 4. Russia is making great efforts in the field of the expansion of the oil pipeline net. 5. Last year at this time we were completing the construction of a trunk pipe line. 6. We shall be finding new solutions to this problem for some years. 7. Since the beginning of the 19th century Russia has constructed a considerable mileage of trunk pipe lines. 8. Prior to 1878 we had transported petroleum in barrels. 9. By 1930 we shall have accomplished the construction of the Trans-Siberian pipe line.
VIII. Put the sentences into the Past, Future Indefinite and Present Perfect.
1. Pipelines are manufactured from iron and steel.
2. The pipeline is used for oil and gas transportation.
3. A new pipeline is built by this pipe line construction company.
IV. Translate into Russian, paying attention to the passive constructions. Remember the underlined verbs.
1. The discovery of this scientist wasfollowed by great experimental activity. 2. The works of the well-known Russian engineer Shukhov who designed the first oil tank for the storage of oil are often referred to by engineers and specialists in oil transportation. 3. This problem will be dealt with in more detail later. 4. The extension of the oil pipe line net is paid much attention to in our country. 5. The builders of the pipe line were supplied with machinery of the newest design. 6. The soil into which the pipe is laid may be wet and the pipe may be acted upon by the salts or acids present in the soil, so the pipe should be protected with a special insulating material. 7. Plastic materials are spoken of as the materials of future. 8. The capacity of the line is affected by many factors. 9. Pipe lines are generally subdivided by the manner in which the joints are connected. 10. A distribution system consisting of piping and equipment necessary to serve a community with gas is commonly referred to as a town plant. 11. The report of this engineer on the new methods of pipe laying was listened to with great attention. His report was followed by a discussion. 12. These data are referred to in all the articles. 13. The movement of oil through pipe lines is influenced by a variety of factors.
X. Find English equivalents for the following Russian words and word combinations.
| 1) распределение газа 2) транспортировка нефти по трубопроводу 3) нефтепровод диаметром в два дюйма идлиной в 5 миль 4) нефтеперерабатывающие заводы | 5) осуществлять посредством 6) магистральный трубопровод 7) расширять сеть трубопроводов 8) но это не так 9) включая |
XI. Translate into Russian.
1. За строительством трубопровода Баку-Батуми последовало строительство трубопровода Грозный – Баку. 2. На пластмассовые трубы влага не влияет. 3.О сибирскoм нефтепроводе говорили как о самом большом трубопроводе в Советском Союзе. 4. Многие виды транспорта используются для доставки нефтепродуктов на рынки сбыта. 5. На книгу Шухова «Строительство трубопроводов» ссылаются многие учёные. 6. За открытием новых нефтяных месторождений обычно следует строительство системы трубопроводов.
XII. Read the text and answer the questions.
Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov was born in 1853 into a petty noble family. In 1871 he graduated from Saint Petersburg gymnasium with distinction. During his high school years he showed mathematical talents, once demonstrating to his classmates and teacher an original proof of Pythagorean theorem. The teacher praised his skills but he failed the grade for violating the textbook’s guidelines.
After graduating from the Imperial Moscow Technical School with distinction and a Gold Medal he went to Philadelphia to work on the Russian pavilion at the World’s Fair and to study the inner workings of the American industry. During his stay in the US Shukhov came to know a Russian-American entrepreneur Alexander Bari.
Back in Russia Shukhov assumed the office of Chief Engineer in a new company specializing in innovative engineering, where they worked with Barri until the October Revolution. Their works revolutionized many areas of civil engineering, ship engineering, and oil industry. After the Revolution Shukhov decided to stay in the Soviet Union despite having received alluring job offers from around the world.
V.Shukhov was a great Russian engineer renowned for his pioneering works on new methods of analysis for civil engineering that led to breakthroughs in industrial design of oil reservoirs, pipelines, boilers, ships and barges. Shukhov is particularly reputed for his original design of hyperboloid towers such as Shabolovka Tower, the 160-metre high freestanding steel structure built in 1919-1922 during the Civil War.
He is often referred to as the Russian Edisson for the sheer quantity and quality of his pioneering works. He was one of the first to develop practical calculations of stresses and deformations of beams, shells and membranes on elastic foundation. These theoretical results allowed him to design the first Russian oil tanker, new types of oil tanker barges, and a new type of oil reservoirs. The same principle of the shell on an elastic foundation allowed to theoretically calculate the optimal diameter, wall thickness and fluid speed for the fluid pipelines. Shukhov’s projects were instrumental in constructing.
1. How did Shukhov distinguish at school?
2. Why did he decide to go to Philadelphia?
3. In what way was V.Shukvov connected with A.Barri?
4. How did Shukhov’s career develop?
5. What is V.G.Shukhov renowned for?
6. Why is he referred to as the Russian Edisson?
7. What did he design thanks to his theoretical results?
UNIT 4
PUMPING STATIONS