Pipelines are essential to the global energy system, moving billions of barrels of oil efficiently. In the U.S., they handle over 70% of petroleum shipments, totaling 14 billion barrels yearly. Yet pipelines can create geopolitical tensions, disrupting global trade flows and prices. Control over pipelines offers strategic influence and revenue, with projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline showcasing their geopolitical importance.

The Druzhba Pipeline, stretching over 4,000 km from Russia to Central Europe, remains a critical crude transport corridor. With a peak capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day, it has faced disruptions from sabotage, sanctions, and commercial realignment. As of June 2025, pipeline flows remain fractured, impacting global oil markets.

The ESPO pipeline system transports oil from Eastern Siberia to the Asia-Pacific markets, operated by Transneft. The pipeline, with a capacity of 1 million barrels per day, plays a crucial role in supplying Russian oil to the Pacific region. Plans to expand its capacity to 1.6 million bpd by 2025 demonstrate its significance in the global oil market.

Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines connect Russia’s gas reserves to Europe, with a combined capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year. Operational since 2011, Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 have been at the center of geopolitical debates regarding European energy security and Russian gas dependence. Sabotage incidents in 2022 raised questions about the pipelines’ vulnerability.

The Keystone Pipeline System, critical in North America’s crude oil logistics, transports oil from Alberta’s oil sands to U.S. refineries. While enhancing energy security, the pipeline faces environmental concerns due to bitumen transport. The cancellation of the Keystone XL expansion in 2021 highlighted the pipeline’s contentious nature in balancing energy needs and environmental risks.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: The 9 Most Important Oil & Gas Pipelines in the World