South European Pipeline


The South European Pipeline is a crude oil pipeline system in France, Switzerland, and Germany. It is built and operated by Société du pipeline sud-européen. The system supplies crude oil to refineries in Feyzin, Cressier, Reichstett, and Karlsruhe.

Technical description

The main pipeline starts in Fos-sur-Mer in France and runs through Strasbourg to Karlsruhe in Germany. It became operational in 1962–1963. As of 2011 it is inactive as the Fos–Strasbourg section is mothballed. Another pipeline runs from Fos to Strasbourg, and pipeline runs from Fos to Lyon. These pipelines became operational in 1971–1972. The system uses Twelve pumping stations. The maximum discharge of the system is 35 million metric tons per year, although the real used annual amount is approximately 23 million metric tons per year.

Accidents

In August 2009, a breach in the pipeline led to crude oil spilling into Réserve naturelle nationale des Coussouls de Crau, a nature reserve in France.