Pipelines

Colonial Pipeline transports various grades of gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, and jet fuel, as well as fuels designated for the U.S. military, through our pipeline system that connects Gulf Coast and Northeast refineries to markets throughout the Southeast and East Coast. Most of the Colonial system is underground, with tankage and other facilities at key receipt, storage, and delivery points as the visible aspects of our operations. Products are transported through Colonial’s system in fungible batches. Different product batches are pushed through the system next to each other and products are sequenced in the pipeline according to their characteristics.  

For example, regular unleaded gasoline may be shipped next to a batch of premium unleaded gasoline as those products have compatible characteristics. When the flow of product is ​“cut” or diverted for delivery or into a storage tank, the ​“cut” is made to protect the entire premium gasoline batch, thus allowing some premium to be added to the regular gasoline.  

Similar steps are taken to protect distillate products such as jet fuel, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, and home heating oil.