What is the difference between Piping and Pipeline? Pipeline - Long series of Pipes usually of large diameter often underground with few fittings & equipment's mostly Pumps & Valves mainly to control the flow, that are laid with an intention to transport any fluid whether liquid or gas over long distances.
The design of pipeline is governed by ASME B31.4 that is code for Liquid Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons, Liquid Petroleum Gas, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Alcohol and ASME B31.8 that is a code for Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems. The constructions drawing here are termed as alignment sheet. Pipeline design generally involves river crossing, highway crossing, rail line crossing etc. The pipeline is Series of straight pipe welded together over a long distance. The pipeline can run underground, aboveground and underwater such as a subsea pipeline. Pipelines are mostly large diameter that transport bulk liquid or gas from one place to other sometimes 1000s of miles in distance. In pipeline few equipment are used within the Pipeline system such as pumps, valves & instruments that support the function of the system to transport fluid safely over a long distance.
Piping - Large series & networks of Pipes within the well-defined boundaries of the plant/plot with all fittings & equipment's like Pump, Valves, Unions & other Miscellaneous items with an intention to transfer fluid from one facility to another within those boundaries as required.