The use of pipelines dates back to ancient civilizations:
5000 B.C.
- Pipes made of clay or stone were widely used in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Rome
- Water supplies are known to have been piped over long distances in the Middle East
- Bamboo pipes started being used in China
In time, the discovery and use of petroleum created a new era in pipeline use. Oil pipelines have existed for over a century. The development has been closely related to the expansion of industry and the development of the automobile.
1861
The first crude oil pipeline was constructed of wood and laid down in the USA
1905
Crude oil pipelines carrying oil from the prolific fields in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to the refineries in the East began to cross the country
1910
Standard Oil controlled over 80 % of the world’s refining and transportation. John D. Rockefeller was the most powerful man in the world
1920
Driven by the growth of the automobile industry, total US pipeline mileage grew to over 185,000 km
Today
Today, there are more than 3,500,000 km of pipelines around the world and much more under construction
Sources: Historical Development of the Pipeline as a Mode of Transportation by M.O Lawal Professor
History of Pipelines- http://www.pipeline101.com/the-history-of-pipelines