Quick Facts:
- There are approximately 6,300 miles of offshore transmission pipelines and 6,300 miles of offshore gathering lines.
- Offshore transmission and gathering pipelines in Federal waters (on the OCS or Outer Continental Shelf) are regulated by either the Office of Pipeline Safety in the Department of Transportation or by the Minerals Management Service in the Department of the Interior.
- Offshore transmission and gathering pipelines in state waters closer to shore are regulated by either the Office of Pipeline Safety or by their certified state agencies.
Overview
An offshore pipeline is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as a pipeline that lies beyond the low water mark of the coast of the United States that is adjacent to the open seas. Offshore pipelines consist of gathering and transmission lines. The gathering lines run from offshore production platforms to centralized platforms or pipelines where the product is transported to the shore through transmission pipelines. Offshore platforms are a familiar sight in Alaska’s Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico. There are 4,000 platforms in the Gulf of Mexico alone.
In addition, special offloading terminals called Deepwater Ports are also located in the Gulf of Mexico. At these ports, tankers can remain in deep water and offload their cargoes of petroleum and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to platforms that then transport the product to shore for storage or processing.
Offshore pipe normally lies either directly on the natural seabed or just below the natural seabed surface; however, in shallow water (15 feet or less) where the pipe is exposed to potential navigation hazards, the pipe must be placed a specified depth below the natural seabed and adhere to other regulatory requirements not applicable at deeper water depths.
Additional Regulation of Offshore Pipelines
Even when regulated by the Office of Pipeline Safety or its certified state agencies, certain aspects of offshore pipelines (such as new construction or modifications) are also regulated by the Minerals Management Services (MMS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and when located in State waters, by other state agencies.
Offshore Pipelines: Where can I learn more?
- Community Assistance and Technical Services
- Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 192, Transportation of Natural Gas
- Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 195, Transportation of Hazardous Liquid by Pipeline
Date of Revision: 041006