Program overview
The Pipeline Transportation program, simply put, studies how to move oil, natural gas, water, and even coal slurry from point A to point B using pipelines. You might think it sounds a bit 'down-to-earth,' but it actually integrates fluid mechanics, materials science, automation control, and engineering management—a highly technical field. Core courses include: Fluid Mechanics (understanding how liquids and gases flow in pipes), Pipeline Engineering Design and Construction (route selection, trenching, welding), Pump Stations and Compressors (giving pipelines the 'boost' to go the distance), Pipeline Corrosion and Protection (preventing rust and leaks), and Pipeline Automation and Monitoring (remote control of valves and flow via computer). Who is it for? If you enjoy hands-on work, are interested in the energy industry, don't mind occasional field trips or construction sites, and have a solid foundation in math and physics, this major will suit you well. Chinese universities have unique advantages in this field—for example, China University of Petroleum (East China) and Southwest Petroleum University both have strong pipeline transportation research teams. Plus, China boasts the world's longest natural gas pipeline network (like the West-East Gas Pipeline), so you'll get to study real-world cases and simulation systems in class.