Pipelines are a long-established, safe and efficient mode of transport for crude oil and petroleum products. They are used both for short-distance transport (e.g. within a refinery or depot, or between neighbouring installations) and over long distances. An extensive network of cross-country oil pipelines in Europe meets a large proportion of the need for transportation of petroleum products.

For almost 40 years CONCAWE has been collecting facts and statistics on incidents and spills related to European cross-country pipelines. Results are published yearly in a report including a full historical analysis. An interactive map of Refineries & Oil Pipelines in Western Europe is also available.

Other activities in this area include responding to various legislative initiatives concerning pipelines, particularly from the European Commission, but also from national governments.

This field of CONCAWE's activity is open to all companies operating oil pipelines in Europe, whether or not they are a CONCAWE Member Company. It provides a forum for the exchange of information between pipeline operators on technical progress and lessons to be learned from incidents. In addition, a COPEX (CONCAWE Oil Pipeline Operators Experience Exchange) seminar is organised every four years for the benefit of all pipeline operators in Europe. Attendance is by invitation only.

For more information send an e-mail.