Government Pipeline and Storage System
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Government Pipeline and Storage System
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Time to let it go. I grew up not terribly far from a couple of terminals and storage sites. To see them now, they are in need of investment.
Another way of looking at it is if there was any kind of Spetnaz-type attack on it, the entire 2000km of it is a liability.
It's a bit like circuit switching vs packet switching. A bunch of trucks on diverse routes are far harder to locate and destroy than a dedicated pipeline. The pipeline is also considerably more expensive to install than a fleet of trucks. With some buffer storage at the point of use, you're off to the races.
If we're talking about economy as opposed to security, then of course the ability to just pump more gas down the pipeline is very useful. But if the enemy wish to deny you the use of it, it's not terribly difficult to think of ways to disrupt it.
Another way of looking at it is if there was any kind of Spetnaz-type attack on it, the entire 2000km of it is a liability.
It's a bit like circuit switching vs packet switching. A bunch of trucks on diverse routes are far harder to locate and destroy than a dedicated pipeline. The pipeline is also considerably more expensive to install than a fleet of trucks. With some buffer storage at the point of use, you're off to the races.
If we're talking about economy as opposed to security, then of course the ability to just pump more gas down the pipeline is very useful. But if the enemy wish to deny you the use of it, it's not terribly difficult to think of ways to disrupt it.
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"Flogging the family silver" ? a better comparison would be selling a family business run by an elderly, tired and impoverished relative. As roadster says, time to let it go.
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Spanish Company has bought the GPSS..... 
Good luck with that one!
As a footnote there's two pigs stuck in a certain section of pipe just outside of a now redundant PRE on a secret ex wiltshire airfield, I know there there. Saw em go in but come out??? Nope
Good luck with that one!As a footnote there's two pigs stuck in a certain section of pipe just outside of a now redundant PRE on a secret ex wiltshire airfield, I know there there. Saw em go in but come out??? Nope
That's spooky, I used to be involved with the pig tracking on the ground, to allow for recovery if the things got stuck. This was for another major pipeline operator not the GPSS, although our networks were integrated at points.
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I'm surprised civil ownership is an issue for some. 90% of the fuel is for civil users and without that it's unlikely the systems existence could be justified. And CLH are not ever going to be in a position to turn the taps off.
Mini-refinery and storage on site?
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As far as the military or government having to own everything it uses or relies on, that is simply nonsense and the UK mil has worked with/depended on industry from the outset. The oil companies and infrastructure operators have a seat at various National Emergency committees.
This is a sensible move - pipelines are expensive and complex to install (imagine how many farmers' fields you have to dig up) and it should be a good money spinner.
