NAICS 486110 Quarterly Industry Report
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 486110Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry report for NAICS 486110 draws on energy infrastructure data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], employment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and small business benchmarks from the Small Business Administration[7]. Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 486110 profile to support valuation professionals assessing crude oil pipeline companies, gathering system operators, and midstream energy businesses. Our research team updates this content quarterly to reflect tariff rate changes and infrastructure developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the pipeline transportation of crude oil industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil (NAICS 486110) encompasses establishments operating pipeline systems that move crude petroleum from well sites, gathering points, and marine import terminals to refineries and storage facilities. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies these operations based on the commodity transported and the pipeline infrastructure used, distinguishing crude oil pipelines from those carrying natural gas, refined products, or other commodities.
Crude oil pipeline systems include gathering lines that collect production from individual wells and connect to larger trunk lines, which transport crude over hundreds or thousands of miles to refinery complexes and storage hubs. Major pipeline corridors connect production basins in the Permian Basin, Bakken formation, and Canadian oil sands with Gulf Coast refining centers and Midwest processing facilities. Tariff rates charged per barrel transported provide the primary revenue stream, typically regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for interstate systems.
Capital investment in pipeline construction and maintenance runs into the billions for major trunk line projects. Right-of-way acquisition, environmental permitting, pump station construction, and corrosion monitoring systems drive substantial ongoing expenditures. Pipeline operators employ engineers, technicians, control room operators, and field maintenance crews. Safety oversight by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration imposes inspection schedules, integrity management programs, and spill response requirements that shape daily operations across every system segment.
What's Included in This Industry
- Long-distance crude oil trunk pipeline operations
- Crude oil gathering pipeline systems connecting well sites to trunk lines
- Marine terminal pipeline connections for imported crude oil
- Pipeline pump station operations maintaining flow pressure
- Crude oil storage tank farm operations connected to pipeline systems
- Pipeline integrity monitoring and corrosion prevention programs
- SCADA control room operations for crude oil pipeline networks
- Right-of-way maintenance and pipeline patrol services
- Crude oil measurement and custody transfer at pipeline interconnects
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Pipeline Transportation | 486 |
| Industry Group | Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 4861 |
| NAICS Industry | Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 48611 |
| National Industry | Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 486110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 486210 | Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | Pipeline transportation of natural gas through separate infrastructure systems, while 486110 handles crude petroleum requiring different pipeline specifications and safety protocols |
| 486910 | Pipeline Transportation of Refined Petroleum Products | Pipeline transportation of refined petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel, distinct from the raw crude oil moved by 486110 systems before refining |
| 486990 | All Other Pipeline Transportation | All other pipeline transportation including water, slurry, and chemical commodities that use pipeline infrastructure different from crude oil systems |
| 484230 | Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance | Specialized long-distance trucking including tanker operations that compete with pipelines for crude oil transport on shorter routes without pipeline access |
| 483111 | Deep Sea Freight Transportation | Deep sea freight transportation including crude oil tanker vessels that move petroleum over ocean routes where pipelines cannot reach |
| 488190 | Other Support Activities for Air Transportation | Other support activities for air transportation are distinct, while support for pipeline operations falls within the pipeline operating company's own classification |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 26.8% | 171 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 8.8% | 56 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 6.9% | 44 |
| 4 | California | 4.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Wyoming | 4.7% | 30 |
| 6 | Illinois | 4.7% | 30 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 3.6% | 23 |
| 8 | Michigan | 3.4% | 22 |
| 9 | Colorado | 3.3% | 21 |
| 10 | Kansas | 2.4% | 15 |
% Of Establishments
0%
27%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$934K
Total Loan Volume
$58K
Average Loan Size
5 yrs
Average Loan Term
6.99%
Average Interest Rate
0
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 486110 at 1,500 employees, using an employee-based threshold rather than revenue. This reflects the capital-intensive nature of pipeline operations where even modest systems require substantial infrastructure investment. Smaller gathering system operators and regional pipeline companies may qualify as small businesses under this standard. Eligible firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for pipeline equipment and technology investments. The SBA 504 loan program[9] supports pump station and terminal facility construction. Federal contracting opportunities exist through Strategic Petroleum Reserve operations and government facility fuel supply programs.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockland Trust Company | 16 | $934K | $58K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 486110?
This code covers companies that operate pipeline systems transporting crude oil from production sites and import terminals to refineries and storage hubs. Businesses range from large interstate trunk line operators to smaller regional gathering system companies that collect crude from individual wells. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies these based on the crude petroleum commodity and pipeline mode of transport.
How is crude oil pipeline transportation structured differently from refined product pipelines?
Crude oil pipelines under 486110 move unprocessed petroleum from production areas to refineries, handling varying crude grades and viscosities that require different pump configurations and heating systems. Refined product pipelines under 486910 transport finished fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries to distribution terminals. Batch sequencing and contamination prevention methods differ between the two pipeline types.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 486110?
The Small Business Administration uses an employee-based size standard of 1,500 employees for this industry, recognizing the capital intensity of pipeline operations. Companies employing fewer than 1,500 workers qualify as small businesses regardless of revenue. This standard is published in the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are closely related to crude oil pipelines?
Related codes include 486210 for natural gas pipelines, 486910 for refined product pipelines, 486990 for other pipeline commodities, and 484230 for tanker trucking. Pipeline transportation codes share regulatory oversight from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, while the commodity type determines the specific code assignment.
What industries are connected to crude oil pipeline operations?
Connected industries include oil and gas extraction companies that produce the crude being transported, petroleum refineries that receive pipeline deliveries, pipeline construction contractors that build and expand systems, and tank farm storage operators along pipeline routes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], pipeline transportation employment supports the broader energy infrastructure network.
What activities are included in NAICS 486110?
Included activities cover operating crude oil trunk pipelines, gathering line systems, pump stations, marine terminal pipeline connections, SCADA control rooms, pipeline integrity monitoring, corrosion prevention programs, right-of-way maintenance, and custody transfer measurement at pipeline interconnects. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] encompasses all pipeline operations dedicated to moving crude petroleum.
Can crude oil pipeline companies get SBA loans?
Pipeline operators with fewer than 1,500 employees can access SBA financing programs. The 7(a) program[8] supports equipment purchases, technology upgrades, and working capital for smaller gathering system operators. Industry 504 program[9] finances pump station construction and terminal facility real estate. These programs benefit independent gathering system companies serving production basins.
Where are crude oil pipelines concentrated in the United States?
Major crude oil pipeline corridors connect the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico with Gulf Coast refineries, link the Bakken formation in North Dakota to Midwest refining centers, and carry Canadian crude south through the upper Midwest. The Gulf Coast region including Texas and Louisiana hosts the densest concentration of crude oil pipeline infrastructure due to its position as the nation's primary refining center.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA 504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standards table sba.gov
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