South European Pipeline
| Industry | Oil and gas transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Crude oil transportation |
The South European Pipeline, also referred to as the Lavera–Karlsruhe pipeline (), is a crude oil transportation network extending across France, Switzerland, and Germany. Managed and constructed by Société du pipeline sud-européen, it delivers crude oil to refining facilities located in Feyzin, Cressier, Reichstett, and Karlsruhe.
Technical description
The principal pipeline stretches from Fos-sur-Mer (Lavera) through Strasbourg and onward to Karlsruhe in Germany. This pipeline has been functional since 1962–1963; however, the segment between Fos and Strasbourg ceased operations in 2011. The network also includes an additional line connecting Fos to Strasbourg via (Oberhoffen-sur-Moder) and another extending from Fos to Lyon (Feyzin), both inaugurated during 1971–1972. The infrastructure features twelve pumping stations and supports a peak capacity of 35 million metric tons annually, with typical yearly volumes near 23 million metric tons.
Accidents
In August 2009, a rupture in the pipeline resulted in a crude oil leak within the Réserve naturelle nationale des Coussouls de Crau, a designated protected natural area in France.