[PA Engineer]

While in Russia, I saw pipeline systems that burned some of the product to re-heat the oil for transport - and the system leaked like a sieve in many areas. Pretty nasty stuff. Of course it *was* a workers Paradise.

Funny. I Worked with an engineer who was an immigrant from Russia. He claims to this day that this was an OK approach even if only half the oil pumped is received by the refiners.

[ASOC]

It wasn't that it didn't work - it did. Keep in mind, as I understand the way the Russians (Soviet)tracked production was at the well-head. So it did not matter how much was lost in transit, only what was pumped.

The reheat facilies looked like oil covered, smoke bleching monsters. There was alway a fire burning in the 'spill pan' - I only wish I had been able to get some photos of those out of country. The spill photos, I guess, were enough.

The other thing that struck me was the miles and miles of aluminum wire left laying about on the ground. IF one could get the salvage rights....