South European Pipeline

The South European Pipeline (also known as Lavera–Karlsruhe pipeline; French: Pipeline sud-européen) is a crude oil pipeline system in France, Switzerland, and Germany. It is built and operated by Société du pipeline sud-européen. The system supplies crude oil to refineries in Feyzin, Cressier, Reichstett, and Karlsruhe.[1]

Not to be confused with South East Europe Pipeline, South Stream, or Transalpine Pipeline.
South European Pipeline
Location
CountryFrance
Switzerland
Germany
Coordinates43°27′45″N 4°54′52″E
General directionsouth–north
FromFos-sur-Mer, France
Passes throughStrasbourg
ToKarlsruhe
Oberhoffen-sur-Moder
Feyzin
General information
TypeCrude oil
OwnerSociété du pipeline sud-européen
Commissioned1962; 1971–1972
Technical information
Length1,848 km (1,148 mi)
Maximum discharge23 million metric tons per year
Diameter34 in (864 mm)
No. of pumping stations12

Technical description

The main 769-kilometre-long (478 mi) 34-inch (860 mm) pipeline starts in Fos-sur-Mer (Lavera) in France and runs through Strasbourg to Karlsruhe in Germany.[2][3] It became operational in 1962–1963.[4][3][5] As of 2011 it is inactive as the Fos–Strasbourg section is mothballed. Another 714-kilometre-long (444 mi) 40-inch (1,000 mm) pipeline runs from Fos to Strasbourg (Oberhoffen-sur-Moder), and 260-kilometre-long (160 mi) 24-inch (610 mm) pipeline runs from Fos to Lyon (Feyzin).[2] These pipelines became operational in 1971–1972. The system uses Twelve pumping stations. The maximum discharge of the system is 35 million metric tons per year, although the real used annual amount is approximately 23 million metric tons per year.[6][7]

Accidents

In August 2009, a breach in the pipeline led to crude oil spilling into Réserve naturelle nationale des Coussouls de Crau, a nature reserve in France.[8]

See also

References
  1. Fluid Handling. 15 (168–176): 2. 1964. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Masseron, Jean (1990). Petroleum economics (4 ed.). Editions TECHNIP. p. 219. ISBN 978-2-7108-0597-7.
  3. Hamilton, David (1967). "Oil across the Alps". New Scientist. 35: 193.
  4. Beltran, Alan (2010). A Comparative History of National Oil Companies. Peter Lang. p. 33. ISBN 978-90-5201-575-0.
  5. Mechanical Engineering. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 84: 77. 1962. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. "A European Dimension. The South European Pipeline". SPSE. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  7. IEA (2007). Oil supply security: emergency response of IEA countries 2007. OECD. p. 127. ISBN 978-92-64-04003-8.
  8. Rosnoblet, Jean-Francois; Cru, Mathilde; Shirbon, Estelle (2009-08-07). "Pipeline spills crude into French nature reserve". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
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