Pipeline Flow Capacity Calculator

Work out pipeline flow capacity instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Pipeline Flow Capacity Calculator

Pipeline capacity is flow area times velocity, converted to barrels per day. Design velocity is limited at the top by erosion and pressure drop — typically 3 to 8 ft/s for liquids — and at the bottom by the need to keep water and solids entrained rather than settling in low points.

Formula

Pipeline capacity

Q (bbl/d) = flow area (ft2) x velocity (ft/s) x 86,400 / 5.6146

Worked example

With the default values below, Pipeline Flow Capacity Calculator returns Pipeline Throughput of 290,065. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Internal Diameterminimum 0.01 inches: 24 inches
Design Velocityminimum 0.01 ft/s: 6 ft/s
Operating Hours Per Yearminimum 0.01 hours: 8,400 hours
Fluidone of Crude oil, Refined product, Water: Crude oil

Results

Pipeline Throughput: 290,065
Annual Throughput: 101.5229
Pipe Flow Area: 3.14159
Mass Flow Rate: 3,664,354

Step by step

1Values used
2Pipeline capacity
3Pipeline Throughput= 290,065
4Annual Throughput= 101.5229
5Pipe Flow Area= 3.14159
6Mass Flow Rate= 3,664,354

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 5 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is high velocity a problem?

Pressure drop rises with the square of velocity, so pumping cost escalates, and erosion-corrosion accelerates where solids or water are present, particularly at bends and fittings.

What velocity is too low?

Below about 3 ft/s water can settle at low points and cause under-deposit corrosion, and wax or sand can accumulate. Batch pigging is used where low velocity is unavoidable.