When the oil changes hands, the pumps are activated by a guager, a person who measures the volume and draws samples for analysis before pumping begins. A pipeline may handle several types of crude oil. The pipeline will schedule its operation to ensure that the right crude oil is sent to the correct destination. The pipeline operator sets the date and place when and where the oil is received and the when the oil will arrive at its destination. Crude oil may also move over more than one pipeline system as it journeys from the oil field to the refinery or shipping port.
Storage is located along the pipeline to ensure smooth continuous pipeline operation.
A run ticket is used in buying and selling crude oil. When the ownership or custody of oil changes, a run ticket is prepared for the receiver and the shipper to record the transaction. After crude oil is converted into refined products such as gasoline, pipelines are used to transport the products to terminals for movement to gasoline stations. In addition to gasoline, products pipelines are used to ship diesel fuel, home heating fuel, kerosene, and jet fuel. Because product pipelines are used to move many different products, the different types of products are shipped in batches .