Part A-Components

INTRODUCTION

Since the days of World War II, petroleum NCOs have grappled with the

challenges of moving fuel to the front lines of battle quickly and

efficiently. Today's NCOs now have an advantage over their predecessors

because they accomplish the task with the Army's inland petroleum

distribution system (IPDS). The IPDS is the Army's primary method of

receiving, storing, and distributing bulk fuel to support military forces

deployed in worldwide contingency operations. The system consists of both

commercial and military petroleum equipment made up of three primary

subsystems: the tactical petroleum terminal (TPT), pipeline components,

and pump stations. By successfully integrating these elements, troops can

move fuel from any source forward into the theater of operations.

PART A - COMPONENTS

Inland Petroleum Distribution System (IPDS) is designed as a lightweight,

rapidly deployable pipeline and terminal system that can be used in

undeveloped and developed theaters of operation. It can interface with an

existing host nation fuel source, such as a refinery, or with the Navy's

Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS). The Navy is responsible for

delivery of petroleum from offshore tankers to the high water mark. The

system is modular in design and can be tailored for any locality or

operation.

Pipeline.

The pipeline is configured in 5-mile pipeline sets. There are

1,404 sections of 19-foot long IPDS single grooved, aluminum pipe with

coupling clamps and gaskets. Pipes are packed in nine 20-foot ISO

containers with 156 sections of pipe per container. An allotment of

elbows and coupling clamps for directional changes, expansion/contraction

devices, and a supply of gate valves, check valves, vent assemblies,

pipeline anchors, culverts, overcouplings, and repair clamps are packed

in four additional containers.

 19-foot aluminum pipe sections (Figure 8-1). Used in the main run of

the pipeline. The pipes vary in thickness from 0.404 inches to 0.188

inches and are used over long distances. They cannot be cut to

different lengths due to the varying wall thickness, but each end may

be regrooved once if damaged.

 9.5-foot aluminum pipe nipples (Figure 8-1). There are 44 pipe

sections in each 5-mile set and 10 sections with each pump station. As

they are of a constant wall thickness (0.404``), they can be cut to

any length required and regrooved using the cutting and grooving tool

furnished. They are used to close short gaps in the pipeline. Each

section has a black line down the length for easy identification of

nipple material.

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QM 5099